Lemesos (limassol) – Cyprus
Follow the signs for Germasogia Dam and, as you drive up, you will see market gardens and citrus groves in the riverbed to your right, note the distictive rock-face atop a crag on the opposite bank because you will see this from a different angle later. Anglers and walkers can take the road across the dam wall, signposted to Foinikaria, for some good fishing locations and nature trails. Contunie on the E128 through Akrounta, a rapidly expanding village on a tributary of the Germasogia River. The road now climbs steeply with a deep valley to your left and a rock face to your right. As you get higher, the valley is to your left and there is a wonderful view back towards ?imassol and the coast. When you reach the saddle, you enter the edges of the Kakomallis and Limassol forests. Several holiday homes have been built in this area, as it picks up cool breezes from the north and south. Driving down towards Dieronia, the village of Kellaki is on the hillside opposite and Prastio is in the valley below. Dieronia lies on the west bank of the Germasogia River and its chief products are citrus fruits, especially mandarins. Follow the signs for Arakapas, a village lying in a natural amphitheatre and one that has given its name to part of the unique geology of Cyprus. The Arakapas Sequence runs along the southern edge of the Troodos Ophiolite and some of the pillow lavas in this area are opn brown-red iron-rich mudstone. Go left at the signpost to the village centre and cross the narrow bridge. The enormous eucalyptus trees to the right indicate plentiful water. Go right at both forks in the village and go right again into the square. At the far end, on the corner of the road to Sykopetra is the very beautiful early 16th century church of Panagia lamatiki. The church is renowned for its Italo-Byzantine frescoes. Also look for the two well-preserved 16th century paintings of Sait Mamas and Saints Mary of Egypt and Zosimos the road to Sykopetra goes through a wooded valley before climbing very steeply. The village, which clings almost precariously to the hillside, originally belonged to the Knights Templar. On the hillside below the houses are huge prickly pear cacti with large racquet-shaped ‘leaves’ bristling with very sharp spines. In summer the delicious brick-red oval fruits, the size of a hen’s egg, are peeled and chilled before eating. The fruits are covered with tiny prickles that pierce the skin, so don’t touch them with bare hands. Leave the village on the road signposted to Prophitis Elias and then take left fork at the top of the hill, onto the road to Agios Konstantinos. You can take a side trip to the hamlet of Profitis Elias, which sits like an eyrie on a hilltop, offering expansive views of the surrounding hills and deep valley below. The main route goes onto a good gravel raod after about a kilometre as it drops down steeply to the valley bottom and climbs the other side. On the way, you go through terraces of citrus trees, a small forest, an area of Mediterranean maquis, vegetables plots and finally, as you re-join the asphalt, grapevines. Agios Konstantinos, which has some well-preserved traditional buildings, is one of the Commandaria wine villages and is a typical Pitsillia village surrounded by vineyards. The tiny church of Agios Konstantinos and Agia Eleni in the village centre is characteristic of the region. Drive through the village and go right at the signpost to Agios Pavlos. This little village on the southern slopes of the Papoutsa peak has abundant water, some of which gushes out of the rocks at a place called styrakas, which is surrounded by large walnut and plane trees.drive through the village, following the signs for Kalo Chorio, and then go left at the signpost for Limasol. You are now in the heart of the Commandaria wine country. Go left at the t-junction and follow the signs for Louvaras. Drive through the village until you come to the very old part where the streets are made of concrete and are exremely narrow. Park your car and walk along Agiou Mama Street, following the signs ‘Agios Mamantos 15th Century Church.’ The church is below road level and all you can see as you approach is part of the sloping red roof. The church houses some of the island’s best preserved 15th century frescoes. In the churchyard is a restored olive press. A walk round round this part of the village will give you glimpses of old stone-built houses, some of which are restored, large, bread ovens, and massive pitharia wine jars. To leave, dirve back through the village and go left at the small green signpost to Kakomallis Forest Station. After 200 metres, go right at the crossroads onto K.Evagorou Street.Cyprus Hotels As you descend, you will be driving through the western edges of Kakomallis Forest. Go left at the main road and go left again at the signpost to Apsiou. The map at the village entrance points you to the paved village centre, a winery, traditional houses and an old water mill. Leave on the road signposted to Mathikoloni and go right, following the blue road sign at the fork after the village. As you drive down the mountain, there is a deep river valley to your left. Mathikoloni, the modern part of which lines the main road, once belonged to the Grand Commanderie of the Knights of St John. The old part of the village is on the slopes below and legend says that it was made up of seven ‘guarters’ and had seven churches. There are the remains of two watermills by the stream that bisects the village. As you contunie, the view opens up and you can see the village of Akrounta in the valley below and the road along which you drove earlier snaks up the hillside opposite. Just before the road turns away from this valley, there is a glimpse of Germasogia dam below and opposite, at eye level is the rock-face on top of a crag that you passed on the way to Germasogia Dam. After driving through a small gully, an amazing panorama awaits you. The vista sweeps from Amathous to your left, through to the Akrotiri peninsula and beyond. Many Limassolians have built houses in this area, as the newly improved road allows them to commute daily from homes on a cool hillside with an extraordinary view.