- 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/351Troodos is the biggest
mountain range ofCyprus , 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 'sWorld Heritage Sites and several other monasteries, of which theKykkos 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 PedhoulasThe area has been known since ancient times for its
copper mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre ofByzantine 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
* Laniaee 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]
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