The Painted Churches in the Troodos region are a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. The group comprises ten Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, many of them set in quiet villages and surrounded by pine-covered hillsides, and they are known for their interior frescoes.
What to see
The churches are valued for their painted interiors, which show Cypriot religious art made between the 11th and 16th centuries. Walking from one church to the next, visitors can compare how the work changed across those centuries and see how local painters adapted the wider Byzantine tradition to their own place.
Planning the visit
- The churches lie in the Troodos Mountains, so the journey is best made by car, with time set aside for the winding roads.
- Because the sites are spread across several villages, allow a full day if you want to see more than a few of them.
- For current visiting arrangements, you can call the contact number listed for the site: +357 25 420144.
Around the churches
The mountain setting makes the visit a natural pairing with a slower pace of travel. The surrounding Troodos area is a place of forest, village life and high-altitude scenery, so a trip built around the churches also gives time for the countryside itself. The site suits visitors interested in religious art, medieval history and the landscape of the Cypriot interior.