Troodos Mountains

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Painted Churches in the Troodos Region


State Party = CYP
Type = Cultural
Criteria = ii, iii, iv
ID = 351
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1985
Session = 9th
Extension = 2001
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/351

Troodos is the biggest mountain range of Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Troodos' highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 meters.

Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus. There are many famous mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries and churches on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and picturesque mountain villages clinging to terraced hill slopes.

There are nine churches and one monastery in Troodos that are counted among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and several other monasteries, of which the Kykkos monastery is the richest and most famous. The nine Byzantine churches are:
* Stavros tou Ayiasmati
* Panayia tou Araka
* Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri
* Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis
* Panayia Podithou
* Assinou
* Ayios loannis Lampadistis
* Panayia tou Moutoula
* Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas

The area has been known since ancient times for its copper mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.

Gallery

Villages of Troodos (selection)

* Platres
* Galata
* Evrychou
* Kakopetria
* Louvaras
* Palaichori
* Kourdhali
* Pelendri
* Kalopanayiotis
* Moutoullas
* Pachna
* Pedhoulas
* Omodhos
* Phini
* Koilani
* Agros
* Prodromos
* Marathassa Valley
* Monte Korfi
* Vasa Koilaniou
* Lania

ee also

*Geography of Cyprus

External links

* [http://www.islandofcyprus.net/troodos_museums.htm Troodos Museums]
* [http://www.360travelguide.com/360VirtualTour.asp?iCode=cyp17 Panoramic virtual tour of the Troodos Mountains]