This route crosses the district of Pafos (Paphos), since there are many monasteries and hermitages such as the Egkleistra (enclosure carved out of the mountain) of Agios Neophytos.
Route: Tala – Panagia – Statos – Κοuklia – Pano Archimandrita.
In the Egkleistra of Agios Neophytos, built next to the hermitage of Agios Neophytos – who was a Cypriot hermit – there are wonderful frescoes of the 12th century, some of which were made by Theodoros Apsevdis, a Constantinopolitan painter.
Near Panagia lies another big monastery of Pafos, Panagia Chrysorogiatissa, with some very well preserved buildings dating back to Turkish rule. In Moni, there is also an Ecclesiastical Museum, which houses treasures of the monastery. Heading south, visitors will come across the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, which is also known as the Holy Monastery or the Monastery of the Holy (‘Ton Iereon’) built in the 10th century. Tradition has it that Agios Nikolaos set off from this Monastery.
In Kouklia, there are two hermitages one of which is also called old ‘Egkleistra’ of Agios Neophytos.
Μonuments: Μonastery / Egkleistra of Agios Neophytos, Τala – Μonastery of Panagia Chrysorogiatissa, Panagia – Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, Statos – “Old Egkleistra” Hermitage, Κouklia and Hermitage of Agion Pateron, Pano Archimandrita.
Total route length: 100 km.
