Nestled in the forested foothills of the Troödos Mountains, Kakopetria is the highest altitude village in the Solea Valley. It’s located at the junction of the Kargotis and Garillis rivers, with archaeological excavations revealing that the site has been inhabited since at least the 7th century.
You can learn about the culinary products manufactured in Kakopetria at the Linos Museum, which features exhibits dedicated to wine, bread and oil production. It’s a short stroll from Marina’s Rope Park, a family-friendly high ropes facility that has courses to challenge all ages.
Just south of Kakopetria is Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Painted Churches in the Troödos Region. Built in the 11th century, it is adorned with frescoes painted over a 600-year period that depict scenes from the life of Jesus. Many of the figures are painted in an Expressionist style influenced by miniaturists of the Macedonian Renaissance.
Getting there
Kakopetria is just over an hour’s drive from both Nicosia and Limassol while Larnaca International Airport is 1.5 hours away. Buses are the main means of getting to Kakopetria and the village is compact enough to explore on foot.