Painted Churches in the
Troodos Region (1985, 2001)
Cyprus
This region is characterized by one of the largest groups of churches and monasteries of the former Byzantine Empire. The complex of 10 monuments included on the World Heritage List, all richly decorated with murals, provides an overview of Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting in Cyprus. They range from small churches whose rural architectural style is in stark contrast to their highly refined decoration, to monasteries such as that of St John Lampadistis.
St. Mary's Church, |
Fresco in St. Mary's Church, |
St. Mary's Church, Podithou |
Fresco, St. John Monastery, Lampadisti (11th century) |
Fresco, Holy Cross Church, |
Fresco, Holy Cross Church, |
Fresco, St. Michael's Church, |
St. Nicholas Church, |
Fresco, St. Mary's Church, |
The impressive Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus, offering cool sanctuary and idyllic hours spent in long walks in its scented pine forests in summer and winter sports and skiing in winter. The area has been known since ancient times for its mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.
Sources and links:
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Other World Heritage Sites in Cyprus (on this site). Inactive links are not described on postage stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Cyprus-section, for further information on such properties.
Revised 18 aug 2007 |