Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Osel Buses
run to Nicosia from Agros twice daily.
Around Pitsylia & Agros
Stavros Tou Agiasmati
CHURCH
(Orounda-Platanistasa;
h
sporadic)
This Unesco-listed Byzantine church is famous for its 15th-century murals by Orthodox
Syrian painter Philippos Goul. In two tiers, the images decorate the ceilings and interior
beams of the gabled roof, depicting scenes such as the discovery of the Holy Cross.
If the priest cannot be found, ask for the key at the coffee shop in Platanistasa village.
The church itself is 5km from the village, off the Orounda-Platanistasa route (E906). Fol-
low the Unesco signposts.
Panagia tou Araka
CHURCH
(Lagoudera;
h
9am-6pm)
This 12th-century Unesco-listed church is on the outskirts of Lagoudera village. From the
outside it appears enormous, the pitched roof and wooden trellis concealing the church
within. Inside, it has some of the finest examples of late Comnenian style (1192) frescos
in the Orthodox world. Its wide selection of neoclassical works, by artists from Con-
stantinople, display images like the incredible Pantokrator featured in the tholos (beehive-
shaped stone tomb). Other excellent frescos include the Annunciation, the Four Evangel-
ists, the Archangel Michael and the Panagia Arakiotissa.
The unusual name of the church derives from
arakiotissa
(meaning 'of the wild pea')
and owes its origins to the vegetable that grows profusely in the district. The church's
priest can usually be found next door; check with him before you take any photos of the
frescos.
Timios Stavros
CHURCH
(
h
10am-5pm)
Built in the 12th century, this Unesco-listed church was originally dome shaped with a
single aisle. In the 13th and 14th centuries it was added to; only the frescoed apse is ori-
ginal.
The frescos (1178) include Jesus depicted (rather oversized) in prayer from the waist
up, with the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, painted as miniatures, flanking him.
Other depictions include the altar and the grail near the small window in the apse and St
Stephen on the north side. These latter frescos (painted by the same hand) are considered
a preface to the great works found in other Troödos churches, with simple straight lines
