5th Route
Point of Interest
Limassol is perfectly placed to explore the tourist attractions and beaches of the Akrotiri peninsula. The route “Churches and Monasteries at Limassol” consists of historical and religious monuments, to satisfy visitors at all levels.
1st Monastery of Agios Nicholas of the Cats, Akrotiri
Distance: 12,3 km
Duration: 23 Minutes
Monastery of Agios Nicholas of the Cats, Akrotiri Source: allaboutlimassol
The women’s Holy Monastery of the Cats is one of the most ancient monasteries in Cyprus. The monastery’s history begins since saint Helen on the 4th c. A.C. established it and left behind a part of the Holy Cross. According to tradition the region at the 4th c. suffered from drought obliging locals to abandon the region due to the appearance of snakes. Constantine the Great, son of saint Helen, ordered the governor of Cyprus Kalokairo to send many cats at the region to relieve it from snakes. As a result, the region was name Cavo Gata and until today there is several cats in that specific area.
Information:
Visiting Hours:
Daily: 07:00 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 17:00
2nd Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas & St. George, Sotira
Distance: 15,1 km
Duration: 27 Minutes
Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas & St. George, Sotira Source: allaboutlimassol
At a near distance visitors will find the Kourion beach, where there is a cafeteria which can be used as a coffee stop.
The men’s Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas & St. George is located within the English base near Froura Episkopis. The monastery’s name seems to be related to Jesus Christ’s name as “miraculous counselor”. The monastery’s history dates back at the 7th c. A.C. when the chapel of saint George was found. The monastery was destroyed after successive Arab raids. In 1991 one religious couple, after seeing several miraculous events, decided to fund the reconstruction of the monastery.
Today the monastery belongs to the Holy Archbishop of Limassol and it is inaccessible to women, which can only visit the chapel of saint George.
Information:
Phone Number: 25212000
Head Monk: Arch. Neilos
Pilgrimage to Saint George
Phone Number: 25391501
Responsible: Monk Gerontios
Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas & St. George is inaccessible to women, which can only visit the chapel of saint George.
3rd Church of Agios Iakovos the Persian, Choirokoitia
Distance: 64 km
Duration: 49 Minutes
Church of Agios Iakovos the Persian, Choirokoitia Source: Visit Cyprus
Following the route, the next station is the archaeological site of Choirokoitia, a neolithic settlement which is reconstructed. It is included in the List of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.
The archaeological monument consists of the remaining houses of a settlement made in the Neolithic Era. Five houses with the characteristic cylindric shape have been reconstructed near the settlement, using similar methods of construction and the same materials that were used in the Neolithic Age. The settlement is equipped with copies of housing items which were found in the original houses, thus, providing a real-life representation of how households were organized in the past. The vegetation surrounding the houses consists of native plants which grew in Cyprus since the Neolithic Era.
Within the archaeological area, there is a stone-built historical church devoted to Saint Jacob the Persian, which was built on the 19th century. The saint’s icon within the church is a piece made by a Cretan painter, John Kornaros, and it is a rare painting.
Before moving to the next station, visitors can relax and have some coffee and lunch at the beautiful Choirokoitia square.
Information:
Visiting Hours:
16 September – 15 April, Daily: 08:30 – 17:00
16 Aprill – 15 September, Daily: 08:30 -19:30
Entrance Fee: €2,50
4th Monastery of Saint George Alamanos, Monagroulli
Distance: 17,7 km
Duration: 13 Minutes
Monastery of Saint George Alamanos, Monagroulli Source: Visit Cyprus
The Holy Monastery of Saint George Alamanos is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Cyprus. It was established on the 12th c. Later on, at the beginning of the 20th c. it was abandoned. Meanwhile, in 1949 Archbishop Makkarios contributed in the reconstitution of the monastery and until today, it is considered to be one of the most beloved monasteries in Cyprus.
Within the monastery, the nuns has established a hagiography laboratory, they produce honey in an apiary and they grow flowers and herbs.
Information:
Operating Hours: Mon. – Sun.: 06:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.