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Nine Byzantine churches in Troodos Mountains are included
in official UNESCO list of World Heritage. These are:
Stavros tou Agiasmati, Panagia tou Araka, Timiou Stavrou
at Pelendri, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Panagia Podithou,
Panagia tis Asinou, Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, Panagia tou
Moutoulla and Archangelos Michail at Pedoulas.
Impressive Troodos mountain range with its idyllic forests
stretches across most of western side of Cyprus offering
cool sanctuary in summer and opportunities for sports in
winter. Famous mountain resorts divine Byzantine
monasteries and churches perched on mountain peaks or
nestling in its valleys, as well as picturesque mountain
villages clinging to terraced hill slopes make up the
splendour of Troodos.
The area has been known since ancient times for its mines
and in Byzantine Period it became a prominent center of
Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in
the mountains, far away from the threatened coastline.
Four main areas, each having its own character and charm
are found on the Troodos mountain range. These are:
Pitsylia to the East of Mount Olympos
Solea
Marathasa Valley to the North of Mount Olympos
Krasochoria,"wine villages" to the South (Northwest of Lemesos district).
These areas are easily accessible from either Lemesos or Lefkosia. Actual Troodos area is found around Mount Olympos (height 1951 meters).
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