Near by places of interest:
Kaledonia Falls
Just 1 KM from our hotel:
Tumbling into a wooded ravine, this beautiful 11-m (36-ft) waterfall, surrounded by forest, is at its most spectacular in spring, when the Troodos streams are fed by melting winter snow from the mountain peaks. It is most popular in summer, when it offers a cool and shady retreat from the powerful midday sun. Its name means good swallows (kala+ aidonia).
Starting point: About
700m from the road between Troodos and Platres near the President's summer
residence. Also accessible via a forest road which begins at the tourist
road 2 kms from the Square.
Length: 3 kms
Time: 11/2 hours
Points of
interest: The trail follows a course along Kryos Potamos river, which never
runs dry. It passes the Kalidonia Falls and ends at Psilo Dendro, in Pano
Platres.
Millomeris Falls
Just 2 km from our hotel:
Another amazing waterfall, which has only recently been made accessible to walkers. Steps have been provided to make the journey down to the waterfall much easier than it used to be. There is a small cafe at the top of the steps.
Millomeris means "moist or humid place". Seferis, a Greek Nobel Laureate Poet, was claimed to have been inspired by this place and mentions Platres in one of his poems. It is taller than the Kaledonia waterfall and dramatically situated. Cross a tiny wooden bridge at the bottom of the steps (below the cafe) to reach the base of the fall and shallow pool, which is a secluded and peaceful place.
Choose from two routes leading to the waterfall. The short route begins near the Church in Platres but this is not a good way to start the walk due to the paths steep downhill gradient. The surface is of loose gravel and even the sure-footed risk slipping here. A far safer option is to take the longer road route and return via the short route (then the gradient would be uphill and much easier to negotiate). You pass through a pleasant wooded gorge alongside a dry river / streambed so the short route is well worth including. Remember the water flowing will be far greater in the wet seasons so crossing then could involve damp feet! This is an interesting walk and especially attractive as it is not too long.
The road route provides easy walking with little traffic. The scenery is attractive, especially when you leave the main road behind and begin to walk down towards the waterfall. You might choose to visit the Perapedhi Dam, as you will pass within half a mile if you walk this way!
Ancient Churches
Nine
Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains, are included in the official
UNESCO list of the World Heritage. These are:
Stavros tou Ayiasmati, Panayia tou Araka, Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri, Ayios Nicolaos tis Stegis, Panayia Podithou, Panagyia tis Asinou, Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis, Panayia tou Moutoulla, and Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas.
The impressive Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus, offering cool sanctuary and idyllic hours spent in long walks in its scented pine forests in summer and winter sports and skiing in winter.
Famous mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries and churches perched on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and 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 the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.
Kykko Monastery.jpg)
The Monastery of Kykkos is the
wealthiest and one of the best-known monasteries in Cyprus. It was
founded in the 11th century and is situated at an altitude of 1318
meters in the Troodos area. It has many exchibits, a museum and the
grave of the first president of Cyprus (Makarios) is close by.
Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis
Agios Ioannis Lampadistis is a
picturesque ancient monastery situated in the Troodos Mountains. Its
timbered roof gives the monastery its unique appearance and visitors can see
ancient Orthodox Christian icons and enjoy the scenery.
In the Troodos mountain range, besides Machairas to the east, and the actual Troodos district around Mount Olympus (height 1951 metres), there are four other districts, each of which has its own character and separate charm.
These districts are:
Pitsillia to the east of Mount Olympus; Solea Valley; Marathasa Valley to the north of Mount Olympus; and Krassochoria, the Wine Villages, to the south (north-west of the Limassol district). These are easy to reach from either Limassol or Nicosia.
Pitsilia
The Pitsilia area lies on the eastern slopes of the Troodos mountains range.
Picturesque villages cling to the mountainside amid vineyards, orchards of
almond and hazelnut trees, and an astonishing array of wild flowers.
Louvaras
In the middle of the village is the small church of Ayios Mamas built in
1495 with wall paintings signed by Philip Goul.
Agros
Agros is the centre of the district. It has a good dry climate, gardens of
roses, cool springs and hotels for visitors.
A 19th century church in Byzantine style now stands on the site of a 9th century monastery of Panayia Eleousa Agrou, founded by monks from Constantinople.
Palaichori
The Church of the transfiguration of the Saviour (tou Sotiros) is an early
16th century chapel on the hill overlooking the beautiful old villages. Its
interior is completely painted with one of the most accomplished series of
murals, of the post-Byzantine period in Cyprus. The church of Panayia
Chrysopantanassa, built in the 16th century, is the main church of the upper
village. It also has four cycles of wall paintings.
Platanistassa
Stavros tou Ayiasmati, a 15th century church, lying about 3km outside this
very pleasant old village, retains the most complete cycles of wall
paintings of the second half of the 15th century in Cyprus.
Lagoudhera
Panayia tou Araka.
This 12th century church stands just outside the village and has some of the finest frescoes of the late Comnenian style (c.1192) prevailing throughout Greece, the Balkans and Russia.
Together with Asinou church and that of Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis, it is considered to be one of the most important Byzantine churches on the island.
Kourdali
The village's early 16th century church with frescoes of the same period, is
dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Panayia).
Pelendri
Timiou Starvrou.
Once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV. There are two interesting churches, the 14th century church of Timiou Stavrou with beautiful wall paintings and the 14th century church of Panayia Katholiki in the middle of the old village which dates to the early 16th century with paintings of the Italo-Byzantine style.
Solea Valley
The Solea valley is famous for its apples, its Byzantine churches and its
picturesque villages. Galata and Kakopetria, villages preserving much of
their traditional folk architecture, are popular hill resorts. Both villages
are famous for their Byzantine churches. Other important villages in the
area are Evrykhou, Flassou, and Korakon.
For a lot more information on nature paths, things to do, places to visit have a look here:
http://realtravel.com/platres-limassol-attractions-d4871604-6.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodos_Mountains