Pedhoulas: Church Art, Orchards and Trails in Troodos

Pedhoulas lies at an altitude of 1,100 metres in the Troodos Mountains, in the Marathasa Valley of the Lefkosia (Nicosia) district. Church art, traces of Byzantine history, orchards and nature trails give the mountain village a variety of facets. When choosing your holiday destination, consider whether you are especially interested in historical depictions, hiking or the local connection with cherries: Pedhoulas offers specific points of interest for each.

Byzantine Art and Local History

The Byzantine Museum of Pedoulas displays the Panagia Hodegetria from the 13th century and the Panagia Eleousa from the 14th century. It also houses an icon of Saint George slaying the dragon, which includes scenes from his life. The coin collection also offers examples from different contexts: it includes, among other items, a gros of the Cypriot King Hugh IV (1324–1359) and a Byzantine coin from 1570. The icons and coins thus offer different ways to explore the village’s historical collections.

The Archangelos Michael Church features paintings on two levels in the local post-Byzantine style, dating from before Venetian rule. Eleven compositions from the feast cycle are arranged above depictions of saints. Those interested in church art will find a different subject here from the museum collections: the focus is on the paintings and their arrangement inside the church.

The Chapel of Saint Paraskevi is at Pumi, in the old village of Pedoulas, in a valley with orchards. A bronze statue of Ethnarch and Archbishop Makarios III stands on Filoxenias Street, on the village’s main road. These places complement the church art and collections with further connections to the area’s history and character.

Nature Trails, Environmental Education and Cherry Orchards

There are nature trails for hiking in Pedoulas. The trails associated with the village lead to historic Byzantine chapels, old stone fountains and places of natural beauty. Check the details and conditions of each route when choosing a hike. The Stelios Environmental Education Center offers another way to explore nature as a subject: it runs indoor and outdoor environmental education activities led by experienced teachers and course instructors. The centre is visited by primary and secondary school pupils as well as students from universities in Cyprus and abroad; arrange any participation with the centre.

The EEC Pedoulas is open during the school year, but closed on weekends, public holidays and during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. These opening times are important to keep in mind if environmental education is a focus of your stay. Confirm the arrangements for visits directly with the centre before you go. Also connected with the natural environment is the “Stavros tis Fithkias” Telescope and Nature Observatory, located beside the Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Pedhoulas is surrounded by orchards and is especially known for cherries and products made from them. Many visitors drink refreshing water from the village’s natural spring as they pass through Pedoulas.

For orientation, Pedoulas has four interactive tourist information boards: one is beside the municipal council offices, others are at the entrances to the Folklore Museum and Byzantine Museum, and the fourth is by the Stelios Foundation office. Together with the cultural and nature-related attractions, these information points can help you narrow down your interests for your stay. A holiday apartment in Pedhoulas is a suitable option to look into if you would like to use the village itself as a base for this mix of church art, history and nature.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Spilia, Pera, Dali, Askas, Palaichori, Lythrodontas, Peristerona, Nisou.

For the wider travel guide: Nicosia.