Panagia Forviotissa (Asinou)

This beautiful Unesco-listed church on the perimeter of the Adelfi Forest, 10km northeast as the crow flies from Kakopetria, is easily accessible from Kakopetria or Lefkosia. The church has arguably the finest set of Byzantine frescoes in the Troödos and, if you feel that you have overdosed elsewhere, its calm rural setting makes for a delightful day out. A visit to the church could also be combined with a picnic in the adjoining forest.

The styles and motifs of the frescoed interior cross several artistic generations and are quite arresting. Most of the interior images date from the 14th and 15th centuries, and portray many themes found elsewhere in the Troödos Byzantine churches. However, it is the sheer vibrancy of the colours that make the Asinou frescoes so appealing. Father Kyriakos of nearby village of Nikitari (population 430) is the priest and caretaker of the church and, if he is not already tending to groups of Cypriot pilgrims at the church, he can be found in the village itself; ask at the kafeneio.The Panagia Forviotissa is reached by a circuitous route over the mountain ridge east of Kakopetria, or by a well-signposted fast route off the B9 from Lefkosia, via Vyzakia.If you would prefer to walk here, there is a pleasant forest hike from the village of Agios Theodoros to the west, off the B9. There's no public transport.