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Byzantine Route: 10 Painted Churches of Troodos Religious Route

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Discover the island’s deep religious roots and its significance in the history of Christianity as you follow a path that takes in sacred churches and monasteries, all revered and priceless in their evidence of faith, and humbling to behold.

A genuine Byzantine treasure trove is nestled in the mountain range of Troodos, and reveals the island’s religious heritage through Holy buildings that have remained largely unchanged for centuries. With the island situated at crucial crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean, the land is characterised by one of the greatest concentrations of churches and grandiose monasteries of the former Byzantine Empire.

With 10 of these beautifully painted churches included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, days out can be spent driving through the areas of Pitsilia, Solea and Marathasa to uncover the stories of their origins, which are as fascinating as the structures themselves. Unique steep-pitched timber roofs shelter chunky wooden doors that open up onto an array of vivid icons and frescos depicting saints, Apostles and stories from the Bible in all their colourful glory.

The sequence of churches dedicated to the Holy Cross is particularly significant. They pay tribute to Agia Eleni, Mother of Constantine the Great, who passed through Cyprus when returning from the Holy Land and was integral in paving the path of Christianity on the island.

PITSILIA
1. Stavros tou Agiasmati
2. Metamorfosis tou Sotiros
3. Timios Stavros
4. Panagia tou Araka

SOLEA
5. Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis
6. Panagia Podithou
7. Panagia Asinou

MARATHASA
8. Agios Ioannis Lambadistis
9. Panagia tou Moutoulla
10. Archangelos Michael

Courtesy of the CTO

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