Kakopetria is located south-west of the capital Nicosia and it is built upon the foothill of the Troodos Mountain -specifically in the north side of the mountain range. It is a village of the Nicosia district and stands at a distance of about 55 kilometres from the capital and about 55 kilometres from the second largest city of Cyprus, Limassol. It stands at an altitude of 667 metres (it is the highest village in the valley of the “Solea” region), the climate is rather dry, and it receives an average annual rainfall of about 648 millimetres. Fruit-bearing trees (mainly apple, pear, plum, apricot, peach, and cherry trees), vegetables (mainly potatoes and tomatoes), vines (of table and wine-making varieties), and a few cereals are cultivated in its area. Kakopetria is especially known for the quality of its apples.
Churches
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Unesco Church
Metamorfosi tou Sotira Church
Panagia Theotokos Church
Agios Georgios Perachoritis Church
Agios Fanourios Chapel
“Linos” Museum
Linos” Museum is housed in a building on Old Kakopetria Street. It consists of three thematic sections, with the first one being dedicated to wine, the second one to bread and the third one to olive oil.
“Eliomylos” Museum
The Museum is housed in the yard of the Church of Soteros, at the old picturesque neighbourhood of Kakopetria.
The old olive mill with the distinctive millstone displayed at the museum today is no longer in operation.
Old Kakopetria
Palia Kakopetria (the old part of the village) is the most beautiful and picturesque part of the village and it is built on the place where Kakopetria had first arisen (Old Village). Today, this part of the village is actually on the west side of the village, and more specifically it emerges from the left side of the valley Solia. Palia Kakopetria is surrounded by two rivers: Karkotis and Garilis.
The architecture of Palia Kakopetria will attract and amaze you with its distinct character. The houses are all built very close to each other and almost all of them have two floors. The roofs of the houses seem to be united as a big imaginable road.
Petra tou Antrogynou
The “Petra tou Antrogynou” (stone of the married couple) is situated in the entrance of Palia Kakopetria, near the upgrade road that leads to the church of Transfiguration.
Kakopetria Forest
Dominating pine-trees, platan-trees and poplars prevail in the green scenery, in contrast to acacias and oak trees which only constitute minor “brushworks” of this idyllic picture. This “image of natural vegetation” is completed, as Karouzis characteristically remarks, by “wild olive trees, Cistaceae and other types of wild vegetation”.
River Clarios
A green veil created with nature’s most beautiful colours covers the village of Kakopetria. Pieces of land covered with wild vegetation mingle with cultivated pieces of land creating a magical scenery.
Watermills
For this famous watermill there are also some other documents. The mill was built by a deacon of Saint Nicholas monastery in 1754. The documents which were found agree that this mill belonged to the Archbishop and then it was rented to others. Some time later, the archbishop decided to sell it. Information that we have, claims that the Archbishop sold it for three hundred pounds and another one says that five other people bought it together, for two hundred and fifty pounds.
Central Square
The beautiful central square of Kakopetria with the tall plane trees and coffee shops, where you can try the traditional homemade sweets of the area and you can sit round the fireplace during the winter . The square it’s just a few minutes away from the old quarter of the village which is a listed area with cobbled streets where old houses have been carefully restored or reconstructed.
Kakopetria Old Power Station
The Kakopetria power station began its operation at the beginning of the 20th century specifically in 1926 due to the initiative of Christos Vasiliou, a resident of the village. The source of energy of the power station was water, giving it a special place in the history of electricity in Cyprus.
Platania Picnic and Camping Site
If you’re an outdoor lover, then you probably like camping. It’s the best way to experience the great outdoors.
Platania campsite in the forest has 18 toilet/shower blocks with kitchen facilities as well as disabled facilities and picnic tables. There are kids’ play areas and near the campsite there is a canteen selling most kiosk type products. Located 5km from the village of Kakopetria near the Platania forest station.
