| The octagonal mosque, built in 1816, is | | | | traces of a settlement from the 16th |
| considered the finest example of Ottoman | | | | centıry BC and an ancient olive press |
| architecture in Cyprus. the Tekke and | | | | have been unearthed. Forty-five stone |
| its grounds have been completely | | | | anchors were recovered from the sea near |
| renovated. In winter, the Salt Lake, | | | | the site, some of which are now in the |
| which is one of the two main wetlands in | | | | Larnaka Archaeological Museum. To leave, |
| Cyprus, is home to colonies of flamingos | | | | follow the signs for Nicosia and go |
| and other migratory birds. He lake is | | | | right to Psematismenos, a compact little |
| below sea level and seawater seeping in | | | | settlement with traditional |
| through the porous lime rocks leaves a | | | | architecture. At the main road go left, |
| thick deposit of salt as it dries out. | | | | and then go right onto the F116 at the |
| The Salt Lake is on the Ramsar list as a | | | | signpost to Tochni. Tochni is a |
| wetland of international importance. | | | | picturesque village straddling a gully. |
| Leave the Tekke, double back round the | | | | On the bridge in the centre is the 19th |
| airport roundabout and follow the signs | | | | century Timios Stavros church that |
| for Kiti. Birdwatchers can take a side | | | | stands on the site of a 4th century once |
| trip to an extension of the Salt Lake | | | | said to have been founded by St. Helena |
| known as Spiros' Pool and the hide at | | | | to house a piece of the True Cross. |
| the Water Treatment plant by going left | | | | Tochni is a very popular area with |
| in Meneou village at the sign for Meneou | | | | hikers and cyclists and has rural |
| Beach. In Kiti, go right at the sign to | | | | accommodation. Cross the bridge, go |
| Angeloktisi Church and then first left. | | | | right and at the end of the road go left |
| The Byzantine church of Panagia | | | | onto the E133 to Choirokoitia. Turn |
| Angeloktisi was built around 1,000 Ad on | | | | right into the village at the sign for |
| 5th century ruins. It was rebuilt in the | | | | Agios lakovos church. The postal ahency |
| 12th century and has later additions. It | | | | and grocery store in the square opposite |
| contains a rare and very impressive 6th | | | | the church are in traditional buildings. |
| century mosaic of the Virgin and Child, | | | | To leave, go to the left of the church |
| flanked by the Archangels Michael and | | | | back down to the E133, signposted to |
| Gabriel with peacock-feather wings. The | | | | Vavla. After 200 metres go left at the |
| church is open daily, closing between | | | | sign for Panagia tou Kampou and go right |
| noon and 14:00 hrs. Back at the main | | | | at the fork. This will take you to the |
| road, go left and head for Mazotos. At | | | | site of the castle, where on 7 July 1426 |
| Mazotos you can visit the museum of the | | | | the Marmelukes defeated the army of King |
| self-taught contemporary artists Costas | | | | Janus, the Frankish king of Cyprus. all |
| Argyrou. On the way the road is bordered | | | | that is left are the remains of a |
| by flat farmland with the sea in the | | | | barrel-vaulted room. The left fork takes |
| distance to your left. A camel park and | | | | you to the small church of Panagia tou |
| petrol station are on your left at the | | | | Kampou, which is usually open. Go back |
| junction of the road to Mazotos. Go | | | | to the EI33 and go right to the |
| straight ahead on the road towards Zygi. | | | | Neolithic site of Choirokoitia. Leave |
| This is a market gardening area, with | | | | the settlement, go to the main BI road |
| fields of tomatoes, artichokes and | | | | and join the Larnaka-Lemesos motorway at |
| cucumbers growing in the rich alluvio | | | | junction 14. Stawrovouni Monastery sits |
| soil of the valleys of the rivers | | | | atop a steep 750m peak that was called |
| Xeropotamos, Pentaschoinos and | | | | Olympus in ancient times and where a |
| Maron⦠| | | | temple to Aphrodite stood. The monastery |
| After about for kilometers, go right at | | | | dates back to 327 when, legend tells us, |
| the sign for Alaminos. Look carefully | | | | the ship carrying St Helena, mother of |
| because the sign is not clear. From this | | | | Constantine the Great, home from |
| road, you get an excellent view of | | | | Jerusalem with the True Cross and the |
| Stavrovouni Monastery on its solitary | | | | Cross of the Penitent Thief, ran before |
| peak to your right. As you approach | | | | a storm to the coast of Cyprus. the holy |
| Alaminos, behind a modern house on your | | | | woman dreamt that a young man instructed |
| left is a good example of a rural | | | | her to build many churches on the |
| two-storey farmhouse with upper and | | | | island. On waking, she discovered that |
| lower arches. On your right is the | | | | the Cross of the Penitent Thief had |
| recently reconstructed Alaminos tower. | | | | miraculously transported itself to the |
| Alaminos was the fief of Philop of | | | | top of the mountain, so she built |
| Ibelin during the Frankish or Lusignan | | | | Stavrovouni church in which to house it. |
| Period (1192-1489AD) and this and | | | | He monastery contains a large wooden |
| similar keeps at Xylofagou, Pyla and | | | | 15th century cross minutely carved with |
| Kiti are thought to have been | | | | scenes from the life of Christ. It is |
| watchtowers from that period or the | | | | encased in a silver reliquary that also |
| later Venetian one. The sheep pens on | | | | contains what is believed to be a sliver |
| the approach road to Kofinou indicate | | | | of the True Cross. Stavrovouni is a |
| its dairy industry. Drive through the | | | | working religious community of monks who |
| village, go left at the main BI road and | | | | follow the ascetic principles of Mount |
| take the left turn for Agios Theodoros | | | | Athos. Although woman are not allowed to |
| at the bridge in the valley. The north | | | | enter, the views from the monastery are |
| side of Agios Theodoros is abandoned but | | | | spectacular. |
| the remains of the stone houses are | | | | Choirokoitia, a Neolithic settlement |
| picturesque. After bypassing the | | | | surrounded by a stone wall ,is one of |
| village, go left at the t-junction and | | | | the oldest excavated settlements in |
| drive to the coast through the rugged | | | | Cyprus. Remains show that by 6,800 BC, |
| Pentaschoinos valley, where dark cliffs | | | | it's two thousand or so inhabitants |
| overhang the road and orange groves fill | | | | lived in beehive-shaped huts of stone |
| the river valley. At the coas, go right | | | | and clay. Many of the houses had |
| and drive to Zygi.Cyprus Holidays | | | | under-floor graves where the dead were |
| These days Zygi is famous for its fish | | | | laid to rest in the foetal position |
| taverns but in the past it was a busy | | | | surrounded by gifts and personal |
| little port and camel trains used to | | | | effects. The settlement was built on an |
| bring carobs for storage in the large | | | | easily defensible hillside and |
| stone warehouses to await export. The | | | | surrounded by a wall. The Choirokoitians |
| pier is derelict but the village and | | | | were well-organised goat breeders, who |
| warehouses are undergoing considerable | | | | cultivated the land and there is |
| restoration. Leave by taking the road | | | | evidence of spinning, weaving and |
| beside the white church, signposted to | | | | pottery. Flint sickle blades, figurines |
| Maroni and go right before two large | | | | of fertility gods and stone vases have |
| concrete water cisterns on a hill. As | | | | been excavated, as well as necklaces of |
| you approach the village, go right, | | | | shells and cornelian. Houses have been |
| cross the dry bed of the river Maroni | | | | constructed near the site as a pointer |
| cross the dry bed of the river Maroni | | | | to how the people lived. Steps and a |
| and go left. Go right after the old | | | | series of walkways enable visitors to |
| church and left at the end of the road. | | | | see main points of the settlement and |
| Go left at the old stone house and into | | | | signs describe the key features of each |
| the village centre. The narrow streets | | | | area. Many of the finds are exhibited in |
| of Maroni give you a glimpse of some | | | | the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia and the |
| impressive traditional architecture. | | | | Larnaka District Archaeological Museum. |
| There is anarchaeological dig on the | | | | The site is a Unesco World Cultural and |
| southern ourskirts of the village, where | | | | Naural Heritage Site. |