5 - Machairas Forest - Lefkara - Kato
Drys - Vavatsinias
The four trails in this area are near the
picturesque villages of Lefkara, Kato Drys, Vavatsinias and the area of Kionia
in the Machairas Forest.
Lefkara with its stone built houses, is
renowned for its hand -made embroidery, known as "Lefkaritika". The
beautiful House of Patsalos houses the Traditional Museum of Embroidery and
Silvers making. The rich flora of the area includes a rare plant, strictly
protected by the Bern Convention, the Lefkara Astagalus (Astagalus macrocarpus
ssp, lefkarnesis).
1. Kionia - Profitis Ilias Length : 7
km Time: 3 hours
Starting point: Kionia picnic site.
Accessible either from Vavatsinia or from the Machairas Monastery road which
leads to Kionia.
Points of Interest: The trail goes
down to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah) where there is a spring
with drinking water.
2. Vavatsinia (Spilia tis Athasias) Length :
2
km Time: 1 hour
Starting point: A loose surface
road which begins at the Vavatsinia - Kionia forest road 3 km outside Vavatsinia
Points of Interest: "Spilia tis
Athasias" (Ahasias Cave). It is believed that this was a shaft used to for
mining
3. Lefkara - Chapel of the
Transfiguration (Circular)
Length : 3
km Time: 1 hours and 30 minutes
Starting point: In the village of
Lefkara, on the road to Vavatsinia. An uphill course to the Chapel which
eventually leads back to the village
Points of Interest: The Chapael of
the Transfiguration (Metamorfosis tour Sotiros) built on the peak above Lefkara
(727m). A panoramic view of Pano and Kato Lefkara, Kato Drys and the
Monastery of Agios Minas.
4. Lefkara - Kato Drys
Length : 2.5
km Time: 1 hour
Starting point: In the village of
Lefkara, on the road to Vavatsinia. An uphill course to the Chapel. After
the Chapel, the trail takes another path down to Kato Drys
Points of Interest: The well known
Agios Minas Convent can be seen near Kato Drys.
Opening Hours: The convent is open
to groups of visitors from Mondays to Fridays only.
This information was taken from the CTO
publication Nature Trails of Cyprus. You can get a copy from any Cyprus
Tourism Organization office in Cyprus. |