Troodos - Surrounding Villages

Foini, four kilometers west of Platres, is famous for its pottery and its loukoumi sweets. Visitors can see the Pilavakeion private pottery collection in the village.

The Pilavakeion Private Pottery Collection is located in Foini village, near Platres. The village is famous for its pottery and this museum includes interesting pieces reflecting Cypriot tradition and history.

The village of Kalopanagiotis is famous for its sulfur springs and the 11th century church of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, with excellent frescoes from the 13th and 15th centuries. It is a complex of two churches and a chapel.

One of the biggest religious fairs in the valley is held here on St John's day, October 4.

Koilani is an attractive village with the single aisle vaulted church of Agia Mavri, typical of the 12th century. It also has its own local ecclesiastical museum. Koilani is 1.5km southwest of Pera Pidi, off the Limassol-Troodos Road.

Moutoullas village, less than a kilometer from Kalopanagiotis, is known for the traditional craft of wooden carved basins, which is still preserved in the village. It also has an interesting church. Panagia tou Moutoulla, or Church of the Virgin Mary of Moutoulla, is a tiny 13th century chapel and a fine early example of the steep-pitched wooden roof type of churches with frescoes dating from 1280.

The village is also famous for its spring water which is bottled and sold around the island.

Omodhos, 11 kilometers southwest of Platres, was once the property of Sir John de Brie, Prince of Galilee and has the Monastery of Stavros "Holy Cross" standing by its stone-paved square.

A festival is held in the village every August, and there is a large religious fair on September 14.

Pedoulas is the third village on the road up from Nicosia to Troodos, after Kalopanagiotis and Moutoulas. It is a summer resort famous for its cherries. The painted church of Archaengelos Michail in the lower part of the village dates from 1474.

Pelendri is three kilometers below Kato Amiantos, off the Karvouna-Limassol Road, 32km from Limassol. It was once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV. There are two interesting churches: the 14th century church of Timiou Stavrou or the Holy Cross, with beautiful wall paintings, and the church of Panagia Katholiki in the center of the village.

Platanistasa is located 15 kilometers from Agros, 30km off the Nicosia-Astromeritis road. Just outside the village there is a 15th century church which retains the most complete cycles of mural paintings from the second half of the 15th century in Cyprus.

The church of Stavros Tou Ayiasmati has a typical steep pitched roof. The walls of the nave are divided into two zones, the upper showing festivals and narrative paintings and the lower focusing on individual saints.

There are very good paintings, which have been restored under the auspices of UNESCO.

Prodhromos, at a height of 4,560ft/1,368 m, is the highest village on the island and has several hotels as it is a popular summer retreat.

Troodos village is a collection of shops, cafes and hotels, which becomes chaotic in the winter skiing season and when the tourist buses come in the summer. Despite the appearances, the cafes offer some of the best kebab on the island.