Troodos Mountains, Kykkos Monastery and Omodos
In this excursion, visit the various holy shrines of the Troodos mountain, the rivers, and the picturesque villages built around the sides of the mountains.
The first stop will be at Milomeri Waterfalls, in the area of Platres. We will continue over the highest point of Troodos, and of Cyprus, Mount Olympus, in order to reach our next destination, the world-famous Kykkos Monastery.
This Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos was built around the 11th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos. However, the monastery seen today is not the original one, as it was burned down on numerous occasions throughout the centuries by invading forces.
The first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, is buried here, and his tomb can be visited during our stop.
One of the main attractions of the monastery is the revered icon of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, this icon has been responsible for many miracles across the island, one of which occurred in 1760 during severe devastation. The icon is rarely uncovered except on special occasions, and its reverence is honoured by the fathers of the monastery.
Visit the famous village of Omodos, home to the Church of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross. It is here that a piece of the Holy Cross is kept.
The village also hosts traditional wine press workplaces, where we will get a taste of how they produce their sweet Komandaria and other traditional wine beverages. Omodos is also well known for its handmade silverware, and during the remaining time in the village, witness the handwork behind its creation.
The last stop will be at the birthplace of Aphrodite, Petra-tou-Romiou. If it is warm enough, you will get to swim in her waters and get up close to this rock of love.
