Dali
Region
About
20 km South of Lefkosia, on Lefkosia-Larnaka/Lemesos road
Remains of all
historic periods of the island could be traced in this
area. Excavations of Ancient Dali, one of the ancient
city-kingdoms of Cyprus, are currently taking place in the
town of Dali.
Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi could be seen at Pera
Chorio. It has excellent examples of wall paintings dating
back to the late 12th century, which are considered by
scholars as some of the finest examples of Komninian style
in Cyprus. An important church in the region is that of
Agios Dimitrios (16th century).
Medieval ruins exist around the village of Potamia, namely
the ruins of the summer Palace of Frankish kings of
Cyprus, as well as those of a Gothic church.
A small technological museum has been set up in nearby
village of Agia Varvara (10 minutes from Dali). This
village borders upon old copper mines.
Panagia
Chrysospiliotissa
Near
Deftera village, 11 km Southwest of Lefkosia
Dedicated to
"Our Lady of Golden Cave", catacomb structure of
the church indicates that it dates back to the early
Christian period. A religious fair is held near the church
on 15th August, name day of Virgin Mary.
Tamassos
Politiko
village, 20 km Southwest of Lefkosia
Tamassos was a
rich city-kingdom in ancient Cyprus, renown for its copper
mines.
Excavations have
brought to light Royal Tombs and copper workshops
associated with Aphrodite-Astarte.
Agios
Irakleidios Convent
Politiko
village, 0.5 km from Royal Tombs
When Saints Paul
and Barnabas came to Cyprus, Irakleidios, whom they later
consecrated as Bishop of Tamassos, guided them to Tamassos.
He was martyred and buried in the cave, where he had lived
and preached. Monastery, founded in 400 AD, was destroyed
and rebuilt several times, until Archbishop Chrysanthos
renovated the church and cells in 1773. Relics of the
saint are kept in a silver gilt case. Organized groups may
visit the convent on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from
09:00-12:00. Use of photo and video cameras inside Convent
is prohibited.
Machairas
Monastery
41
km South of Lefkosia, through Deftera and Pera villages
Founded by two
monks in 1148, when an icon of Virgin Mary was found in a
nearby cave, monastery is set in a picturesque dip in the
Machairas Mountains. Following a grant by the Anastasios
G. Leventis Foundation, the vestry of Machairas monastery,
which is housed in monastery basement, has been renovated
and consists of original cells of the monks, as well as
stables and storage areas, which were restored
specifically for this purpose. Vestry has a room, where
Monastery's old books and manuscripts are kept, galleries
and rooms containing icons and other religious artifacts.
Brotherhood is extremely devout, keeping vows as strict as
those of Mount Athos in Greece.
Organized groups may visit monastery on Mondays, Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 09:00-12:00. Use of photo and video
cameras inside the monastery is prohibited.
Fikardou
1.5
km east of Gourri village (Machairas-Lefkosia road via
Klirou), Tel: (02) 63 47
31
The whole
village has been declared an ancient "monument"
in order to preserve remarkable woodwork and folk
architecture of 18th century houses. Houses of Katsinioros
and Achilleas Dimitri, some parts of which date back to
16th century, have been restored as vivid examples of
rural architecture.
In consequence
they received the Europe Nostra award in 1987.
Agios
Panteleimon Convent
1.5
km Northwest of Agrokipia village
An 18th century
monastery, with gabled roof, now serves as a retreat for
three nuns.
Archangelos Michail Convent
Off
the Lefkosia-Anthoupolis road, 10 minutes drive from
Lefkosia
Church dating
back to Byzantine period, was founded by Archbishop
Nikiforos, whose tomb could be seen in the narthex of.
Rebuilding was carried out in 1636 and in 1713, when
Kykkos Monastery purchased it. The iconostasis dates back
to 1650 and there is a 1785 fresco of Archangelos Michail.
Now, it houses Kykkos Monastery Research Center.
Peristerona
27
km from Lefkosia, on the Lefkosia-Troodos road
Saints
Barnabas and Hilarion church founded here, was probably
erected in the early 10th century and is an outstanding
example of Byzantine architecture, with five domes forming
a cross. Next to the church stands Turkish Mosque of
Peristerona, witness to the long and peaceful coexistence
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots of the village (and the
whole of Cyprus) in a time, when Turkey had not yet
adopted its partitionist and expansionist policy.
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