Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the cool shade of the platano (plane tree), this restaurant serves traditional dishes like
souvlakia (souvlaki) and afelia (slow-cooked pork with wine and herbs). Cypriot coffee is
a must, prepared the time-honoured way using a tray of hot sand between the brikki (a
small saucepan) and the open flame. This method allows the coffee to heat gradually, giv-
ing a richer taste.
8 Getting There & Away
Osel Buses go from Constanza Bastion, Nicosia, to Pedoulas four times daily on week-
days, three times on Saturday and twice on Sunday (single/return €1.50/3, 1½ hours).
Kalopanayiotis
Pop 290
Famous for its monastery and Byzantine museum, Kalopanayiotis is a relaxing place to
stop for a few days, with natural sulphur springs (dedicated to the ancient god of healing,
Asclepius) and good-quality agrotourism accommodation ( Click here ) .
1 Sights
Agios Ioannis Lambadistis Monastery CHURCH
( h 9am-4pm Tue-Sun May-Sep, shorter hours rest of the year; p )
This Unesco-listed site is a complex of three churches in one, dating from the 11th century
and built over 400 years. The original Orthodox church has a double nave, to which a
narthex and a Latin chapel were later added. Now under one huge pitched wooden roof,
they represent one of the most wonderfully preserved churches in the region. The monas-
tery is reached by following the narrow and winding main street to the opposite side of the
valley.
The main domed Orthodox church exhibits colourful and intricate 13th-century frescos
dedicated to Agios Irakleidios. These include Jesus' entry to Jerusalem on a donkey, with
children climbing date trees to get a better look. Other featured frescos include the Raising
of Lazarus, the Crucifixion and the Ascension, with vivid colour schemes suggesting
artistic influence from Constantinople.
The antechamber and Latin chapel have more frescos, dating from the 15th and 16th
centuries. Those in the chapel are considered the most comprehensive series of Italo-Byz-
antine frescos in Cyprus. The scenes representing the Akathistos hymn (praising the Vir-
gin Mary in 24 verses) are shown as 24 pictures, each carrying a letter of the Greek alpha-
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