Troodos Mountains
We drove along the winding road through the beautiful Cedar Valley in the Paphos Forest. There are over 200,000 cedars in this secluded and peaceful valley. They are the indigenous Cyprus cedar, Cedrus brevifolia, a close relative of the famous cedars of Lebanon. We visited the Kykkos Monastery before driving to Mount Olympus (6420ft). Then a short trek to visit to Kalidonia Waterfalls before our last stop at the Keliphos Venetian Bridge. We saw the rare sight of a group of caterpillars on the move.

	 
 		 
	 

Kykkos Monastery
The Monastery of Kykkos is the richest and most lavish of the monasteries of Cyprus, with its impressive gold and brass  fronted church and richly decorated corridors. Dedicated to Panagia, it possesses one of three icons attributed to Agios Loukas the Evangelist. The icon, covered in silver gilt, is in a shrine made of tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl that stands in front of the iconostasis. The Monastery of Kykkos was founded around the end of the 11th century, during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118 AD). The first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, served here as a novice and is buried nearby upon his death in 1977. The monastery produces zivania and a variety of other alcoholic drinks.

	 
 		 
	 

Kalidonia Waterfalls
It takes about 40 minutes of relaxed walking on a dirt trail to reach the Kaledonia waterfall from the trout farm on the main Troodos to Platres road. It is the highest waterfall in Cyprus.



Kelifos Medieval Venetian Bridge
Kelefos Bridge is the most famous of the remaining single arch medieval bridges in Cyprus. It is possible to walk to the Ella and Roudia bridges in the same area but the signage is not clear. Kelefos is accessible down a 6km single track road from Agios Nicolaos. It is close to the Arminou Dam and reservoir.