Why this ride
83 km from Kyperoúnta to Kyperoúnta, about 1 h 43 of riding. It goes by way of Church of Timios Stavros, Church of Panayia and back through Church of Timios Stavros. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Church of Ayia Sotira and Church of Panayia
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 83 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 43
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Church of Ayia Sotira
This point lies in the northern foothills of the Troodos range, in a landscape of dry stone terraces, carob and olive trees, and villages that tilt down towards the Nicosia plain. What I can say is that the villages around it, Peléndri and Kyperoúnta among them, belong to one of the richest church regions in the eastern Mediterranean. The Troodos painted churches, ten of them on the UNESCO list, are small, steep-roofed stone buildings that hide Byzantine frescoes inside, and one of them, the Timios Stavros, stands at Peléndri.
Read the complete Church of Ayia Sotira write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Ayia Sotira is where the day begins. Next is Church of Timios Stavros.
2. Church of Timios Stavros
The painted churches of the Troodos mountains look plain from outside. Squat stone boxes with steep timber roofs, built that way to shed the snow, they hide inside some of the finest Byzantine frescoes in the Mediterranean, and nine of them were listed by UNESCO in 1985, with a tenth added later. The Church of Timios Stavros, the Holy Cross, at Pelendri, is one of the group, with frescoes from the fourteenth century that show scenes of the life of Christ, in the dark blues and ochres of the period, and an interior lit by only a little daylight so that the figures seem to glow.
Read the complete Church of Timios Stavros write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Timios Stavros comes up about 22 km into the recorded legs. Next is Church of Panayia.
3. Church of Panayia
The churches of the Troodos mountains look, from outside, like barns. In the high, cool country of the island's interior, where snow can fall in winter, builders covered their churches with a second, steeply pitched timber roof of tiles to protect the older domed buildings underneath, and the result is a plain, sturdy exterior that gives no hint of the paintings within. Inside, walls and ceilings are covered with Byzantine frescoes, some from the eleventh century and later, showing saints, angels and scenes of the life of Christ in rich, deep colours. Ten of these churches are listed by UNESCO.
Read the complete Church of Panayia write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 41 km into the recorded legs you reach Church of Panayia. Next is back through Church of Timios Stavros.
4. back through Church of Timios Stavros
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Church of Timios Stavros write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Church of Timios Stavros, late in the day. Next is Church of Ayia Sotira.
5. Church of Ayia Sotira
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Church of Ayia Sotira write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Church of Ayia Sotira. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Church of Ayia Sotira to Church of Timios Stavros
Church of Ayia Sotira → Church of Timios Stavros is 22 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Church of Timios Stavros to Church of Panayia
Church of Timios Stavros → Church of Panayia is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Church of Panayia to back through Church of Timios Stavros
Church of Panayia → back through Church of Timios Stavros is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Church of Timios Stavros to Church of Ayia Sotira
back through Church of Timios Stavros → Church of Ayia Sotira is 22 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.