The arcades
Around the monastery courtyards.
Son of Groucho — CC BY 2.0 · Berthold Werner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Berthold Werner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Julian Nyča — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Klaus D. Peter, Wiehl, Germany — CC BY 3.0 de
Kykkos Monastery is one of the wealthiest monasteries in Cyprus, standing at 1,318 m on the northwest slopes of the Troodos Mountains, about 20 km west of Pedoulas. Visitors come for its broad arcades, white bell tower and the cool forest air around it. It was founded around the end of the 11th century under the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Nothing remains of the original building, as fire destroyed it several times, and the present church dates to 1745. The monastery keeps an icon of the Virgin that tradition attributes to St Luke, covered in silver gilt. Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus, began his religious life here as a monk in 1926. The buildings stand around courtyards ringed by arched stone arcades, with modern wall paintings and colourful mosaics. The monastery museum holds icons, church vessels, manuscripts and Cypriot antiquities. A favourite view is the bell tower above red roofs, with green mountains behind. It is 14 km in a straight line from Troodos village, but the mountain road is far longer and winding, so allow half a day by car. There is a strict dress code, with long trousers for men and knee-length skirts for women, and robes can be borrowed at the entrance. It is cooler than the coast, so bring a light jacket, and keep your voice down in this place of worship.
Around the monastery courtyards.
White above the red roofs.
Icons, manuscripts and antiquities.
Northwest slopes of the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus
Yes. Long trousers for men and knee-length skirts for women, with robes available at the entrance.
The mountain road winds well beyond the 14 km straight line, so allow half a day.