Covering Ground – The Troodos Mountains
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The Troodos Mountains are the biggest mountain range in Cyprus. You could say that the Troodos Mountains are the heartbeat of Cyprus as it is located in the centre of the island nation. The Troodos mountain range covers most of the western side of Cyprus and the locals call it a ‘Walker’s Paradise’ due to the numerous trails and sights that can be found here.
There are 26 villages, nine churches and one monastery in the Troodos Mountain area; they are counted among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The Kykkos Monastery is the biggest and richest and most famous one which dates back to the 11th century. The area had been known for its copper mines which you can still explore today and in the Byzantine period they became well known as a great centre of Byzantine art. This was helped by churches being built in the area rather than being built near the dangerous coastline.
Hiking is one of the main reasons why people visit the Troodos Mountain as there are several trails. The most striking ones are the Atalante, Persephone and the Kalidonia trails. On these trails not only will you witness some breathtaking views but you will also be captivated by the pine scented forests. It is recommended that people don’t visit the mountains trails during the months of November to March because of the heavy rainfall and snow which make the trails more difficult to navigate around the mountain. Although winter time is perfect to visit the snow resorts as the winters are warm and there a few slopes that might tickle your fancy.
Skiing on the Mountain is very popular on these mountains. The sport first appeared in Cyprus around 1934, a group of people created the islands first Mountaineering Club. 13 years later the Cyprus Ski Club was created and since then has had a role in the development of skiing on Cyprus.
Mount Olympus not to be confused with the one based in Greek mythology, is the Troodos Mountain’s highest peak at measuring at 1, 952 metres. There are several slopes at the ski resorts, funnily enough the ski lifts are named after Greek Mythology Gods. The Mount Olympus resort has four slopes and whilst the terrain isn’t extensive, all those who get on the slope are catered for no matter how much experience they have on slopes. The Hera Lift on the North Face and Aphrodite Lift at Sun Valley are suitable for beginners, for the intermediate skiers the Hermes slope in Sun Valley is where they will feel at home whilst the advanced ones will challenge the big one the Zeus run on the North Face of Olympus.
The Troodos Mountain are one of the most sought after places in Cyprus so if you wanted to stay at a resort you would have to book well in advance as it will be packed if you don’t might travelling a bit then you can rent many nearby villas in Cyprus within a close proximity of the Mountain.
