The Troodos Mountains occupy the centre and west of Cyprus, rising to 1,952 metres at Mount Olympus — the island's highest peak and a skiing area in winter, which surprises most people who associate Cyprus with beaches. The range is the island's green heart: pine and cedar forests cover the higher slopes, streams run year-round in the valleys, and a cluster of painted Byzantine churches scattered through the mountain villages are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The villages of the Troodos are a world apart from the coastal resorts. Places like Pano Platres and Lania have kept their stone architecture and traditional character, and the winding mountain roads between them pass vineyards, monasteries, and river gorges. The Kykkos Monastery in the cedar forest above Kykko village is the most important religious site on the island, housing a holy icon of the Virgin Mary said to have been painted by St Luke.
Hiking is excellent here, particularly in spring when the wildflowers are out and the peaks are still cool. The Atalante trail around Mount Olympus and the Caledonia Falls walk near Platres are the most popular routes. In summer the mountains offer welcome relief from the coastal heat; in winter they're one of the few places in the Mediterranean where you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
Asia > Cyprus > Troodos Mountains
