Pitsylia

Pitsylia is a mountainous region east of Toodos. The most important villages in the region are Palaichori, Agros, Alona, Askas, Polystypos, Plantanistasa, Kyperounta, Pelendri, Chandria, Dymes, Agridia and Kato Mylos. The region is filled with a rare natural beauty, a large variety of ecosystems and landscapes.  The natural Punus Brutia forests together with the thickets of the endemic Gold Oak cover the large areas.

The main products of Pistylia are apples, pears, cherries, peaches and seasonal vegetables. There are 3 noteworthy Byzantine Churches in the area which are included in the official UNESCO list of the World Cultural Heritage.  There are 8 natural trails to be found in Pitsylia.

1. Doxasi o Theos - Madari Fire Station        Length : 3.75 km    Time: 2 hours

Starting point: "Doxasi o Theos" (Translated - Glory of God) 2 km from Kyperounta and 5 km from Spilia.

Points of Interest: A panoramic view from an altitude of about 1600 m

2. Teisia tis Madaris             Length : 3 km    Time: 1 1/2  hours

Starting point: The end of the previous trail. This trail follows a course around the Madari peak where a Forestry Department Fire Station is situated and ends at the road which leads to this. Taking this road will lead to the starting point.

Points of Interest: The very high spectacular cliffs along the trail offer exceptional scenery. Visitors can climb the highest peak of Madari (1613m)

3. Lagoudera - Agros    Length (1) : 6 km  Time (1): 2 1/2  hours

                                     Length (11) : 6.7 km Time (11)   : 3hours

Starting point: The trail begins at the country road at Lagoudera under the "Koukkides" cafeteria, continues past the Polystypos- Lagoudera - Madari crossroad, then takes a loose surface road for 2.6 km and reaches the Madari-Papoutsas mountain crest. From this point the trail has two forks.  One fork(1) leads down the hill toward the Agros dam and ends at the village. The other (11) follows a course along the crest and continues along a secondary road which leads the Madari Fire Station

Points of Interest: The trail passes through vineyards and orchards of apple, cherry and pear trees. The first fork runs parallel to the Lagourdera river, which it crosses at two points.  The Madari-Papoutsas crest offers a panoramic view in all directions

4. Panayia tou Araka (Lagoudera) - Stavros tour Agiasmati      Length: 7 km  Time: 3 hours

Starting point: Lagoudera or Stavros tou Agiasmati 3 km from Platanistasa

Points of Interest: The church of Panayia tou Araka (1192 AD) and that of Stavros tou Agiasmati (1494 AD) both with beautiful wall paintings are among the nine Byzantine Churches of the Troodos area included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.  The trail passes through a Pinus Brutia forest, vineyards, almond trees and old stone terraces.  To the east of the trail we can see Kionia, to the north Morfou valley, Pentadactylos range, Xyliatos dam, Mount Olympos tot the west and Madari to the south

5. Agros - Kato Mylos (Circular)     Length: 5 km  Time: 2 hours

Starting point: Near the Hotel "Rodon" in Agros

Points of Interest: Apple, cherry and pear orchards, vineyards and rose gardens which are used in the production of the famous Agros rosewater

6. "Petros Vanezis" - Alona (Circular)     Length: 1.5 km  Time: 1/2 hour

Starting point: A point on the main street of the village of Alona near the Youth Center

Points of Interest: Alona is one of the prettiest villages of Pitsilia, with stone-built houses, literally steeped in greenery. The trail passes through dense hazelnut plantations ending down the river.

7. Agia Eirini - Spilies tou Digeni (Caves of Dhigenis)     Length: 3.2 km  Time: 1 1/2 hours

Starting point: The village of Agia Eirini

Points of Interest: The trails ends at the Caves of Digenis, used as a hiding place by the fighters in the 1955-59 struggle for independence.  They have been restored and attract a large number of visitors

8. Asinou- Agios Theodoros     Length: 4 km  Time: 2 hours

Starting point: The chapel of Asinou. The trail passes through rurual roads leading to Agios Theodoros village

Points of Interest: The church of the Virgin of Asinou with its renowned wall paintings, has been declared a Cultural Heritage Monument by UNESCO

This information was taken from the CTO publication Nature Trails of Cyprus.  You can get a copy from any Cyprus Tourism Organization office in Cyprus.