There are many places and activities for relaxing in Cyprus, opportunities for a holiday, or simply to improve your health. We would like to suggest an exciting and rather useful option which we’ll call the “all in one”. It concerns Kalopanayiotis — perhaps you’ve heard of this place, maybe been to it with your family and friends or learnt something new about it on our site? Well today, you’re going to find out a little more.
The intense summer heat, along with the damp winter cold, often drive us out of the cosy interiors of our homes, which have grown stifling. Here we search for new experiences, means to communicate and relax. The villages of Cyprus — be they situated on the seacoast, the island’s bountiful, sun-soaked flat plains, or on scenic mountain slopes and hills — all provide us with new experiences. They open up new friendships and show us the cosiness of a village home. Amongst all this, there is also the stimulating interaction with nature. One of such villages is named Kalopanayiotis, located on the northern slope of the Troodos range. Its close proximity to natural surroundings and protected reserves; the authentic atmosphere, carefully maintained by the locals; the healing springs at the village's disposal — all of this works in favour of your choice to come here. As well as finding something to do here at any time of year, you’ll also be able to get your strength back.
As official and local guides will gladly tell you, guests to the village can enjoy an exclusive break here. Cosmetic procedures and therapeutic treatments are available, which use products containing ingredients from the village’s thermal springs. Visitors may also savour some simple village experiences, get a feel for Cyprus in its true light and interact with the locals.
Kalapanagiotis offers a vast selection of hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, in addition to several SPAs.
Hotels and Staying in the Village
The first and most important questions: where to stay and what to choose. This is dependent on what you have the means to do and in alignment with your own wishes and expectations. Our suggestions will be just as useful for those used to an easy-going life, eager to “merge” with nature. But it will also appeal to those whose soul requires a “celebration of life”, including all the routine riches of modern civilisation.
Let’s begin with the first options:
Anastou's Traditional House
In an old village home, coupled with a retro feel and specially equipped with all the necessary conveniences for a traveller (including a hairdryer, TV and internet), there are some small, yet cosy bedrooms, a fireplace in the main lounge and a spacious veranda… The hotel is intended for 5-6 people at one time.
Address: Anefanis Street, No. 5
Telephone: +357 22821927
Email: maria.lamprou@cytanet.com.cy
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Other traditional homes, for instance, To Kastri, might also grab your attention. This spot is capable of housing 10 people. Built in the first half of the 19th century, the house has a rich history, something characteristic for many village hotels in Cyprus. In 1986, the Efthimiadis family purchased it for use as a summer getaway spot. It was renovated in 2011 and fitted with modern conveniences, while still preserving all of its traditional features, as the Department of Antiquities had demanded.
Now a village hotel, To Kastri offers three rooms to its visitors: one of them — a deluxe with two bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace and dining room, fully equipped with a kitchen and jacuzzi. The two remaining rooms are studios, more humble, but also equipped with everything you might need.
www.tokastri.com
Telephone.: +357 99475458, 357 99582802
But maybe your decision will land on Atratsa Mountain Suites? This family lodge is located in a 3-tier private residence in the centre of the village. Here you’ll find comfortable lodgings with panoramic views of the vicinity and the surrounding mountains.
For more information, see here: www.atratsa.com
email: fanissideris@atratsa.com, fanissideris@cytanet.com.cy
tel.: +357 99 464664, 357 22318543
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Out of those remaining, it’s worth mentioning: Vasiliki’s House (tel: +357 99634545), Polyxeni's House (tel:+357 22497509, 99 790723), Ayios Andronikos (tel: +357 99646151), Maison Elena (tel: +357 70006062), Imisirlou (tel: +357 700 09131, email: imisirlou@gmail.com) и Castallia Hotel (tel: +357 22952455, 357 99599658).
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For those who love a lavish holiday, even if it is out of town — we suggest staying, of course, at the 4-star Casale Panayiotis (28 rooms).
Address: Markou Drakou Street, No. 80.
The hotel will also be a pleasant surprise to its guests, thanks to the combination of an authentic Cypriot mountain village and a touch of historicity, together with a full range of services and modern comforts. Casale Panayiotis occupies 8 separate houses in the village centre consisting of standard and luxury rooms, each of which has been individually designed. On the hotel premises, there is a restaurant, cafe, snack bar, wine bar, Spa, conference and cultural centre.
Telephone: +357 22952444
Email: reservations@casalepanayiotis.com
Restaurants and Taverns in Kalopanayiotis
Choose which one you prefer from our list of restaurants, cafes and taverns:
- Marcos Restaurant & River Park (Cypriot Cuisine; tel +357 22952634, 357 99 619375)
- To Palio Sinema Tavern (traditional Cypriot and Greek cuisine; tel: +357 99130275)
- Panorama Restaurant (a spacious hall for 500 people, traditional cuisine, serves magnificent trout; tel +357 22991113, 357 99468684)
- Restaurant Byzantino (Traditional Cypriot cuisine with the use of local produce; tel: +357 22952444)
- Cafe Epikentro (a varied assortment of tea and coffee, fresh traditional desserts; tel: +357 22952444)
- Cafe O Yero-Yiangos (a traditional coffee shop in the very heart of the village, take-away available; tel: +357 97820340)
- Pantheon Snack Bar (fantastic coffee, various drinks, desserts and light snacks; tel: +357 22952444)
- Cava Wine Bar (a varied assortment of wines, cocktails and alcoholic drinks, to go with your drinks: cheese, meat and fruit plates; tel: +357 25052444)
So, the question of food and lodgings has been cleared up, but what’s the best thing to do after arriving in Kalopanayiotis, you might ask? Once again, expect a wide variety of options for healthy, economical (and ones less so) modes of entertainment and activities.
What to do in Kalopanayiotis
Natural SPA
The healing properties of the springs in Kalopanyiotis have long been reputed and used in the treatment of various diseases. This spot was part of the ancient kingdom of Soli and has been renowned since the Antiquity for its sulphur springs. Before the monastery was founded, a temple lay on the same site, dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine in Greek mythology.
There are two springs in the village, both of which are located near the monastery. The water from the first is used to treat diseases of the digestive tract. To get to the second, cross the bridge over to the right-hand bank of the Setrakhos. Its water is for external application, to heal rheumatic diseases and those associated with the skin.
Nowadays, the beauty and health industry is actively developing here.
We went to the Myranthousa Spa-centre, part of hotel Casale Panayiotis. The centre is open all year round, located on a hillside directly above the river and opposite the ancient monastery. It offers guests various (restorative and aesthetic) programmes and services for restoration and cleansing, as well as personal care. You will find practically everything you could wish for all year round, situated across several levels in an ultramodern interior: from a snow cabin (–15 degrees inside) and colour therapy to a sauna, Turkish baths (similar to Moroccan), massage facilities (complex, including a mud bath) and other services. There is a small pool, terraces and rest halls, as well as a gym which is in high demand. The capsule lift, which noiselessly slides between the floors in the complex, is rather impressive.
Julia Mikhail, the director of the Spa-centre, says: “5-6 people can undergo our Spa procedures simultaneously, the pool can fit 12 people. It’s certainly not a bad option for a hen party or another celebration (she smiles), and there’s also a children’s Spa. Yoga lessons (12 Euro) take place on Saturdays… and when do we have our picnic season, you ask? Every August — a genuine "all hands on deck" situation: from morning till night. I’d like to add that we also have a night Spa — a rather costly, albeit, luxurious way to relax at our centre (480 Euro with food). It can accommodate no more than four people at a time (the programme, as a rule, accepts two guests). From 20:00-24:00, nighttime visitors obtain the full-service package: sauna, massage, mud bath, body-wrapping, showers, swimming pool and jacuzzi.
Another offer — two hours, for two guests, for 260 Euro: one hour in the snow cabin, then sauna and shower; the second hour you can use for a procedure of your choice.
This Spa is part of the same chain as City-Spa in Nicosia, Larnaca and others. We have highly qualified professionals working in our establishment: two masseurs from Russia, as well as a manicure and skin expert. If clients require a doctor’s consultation before choosing some of the procedures, we invite a therapist to work closely alongside us. In general, we envisage the creation of a health centre and sanatorium as part of our future plans”.
Tel: +357 22024355
www.myrianthousa.com
Walks and Excursions
To those lovers of history and times of old, we recommend visiting the monastery complex of Agios Ioannis Lampadisitis and the Icon Museum, as well as two churches (XIX-XX) and six Byzantine chapels (XIII-XVII), all located on the village territory.
For fans of an active holiday in the great outdoors, we suggest taking a walk along the nature trails (both start from the folk road behind the monastery). You could also integrate with the “nearby” Troodos range or take part in the seasonal harvest.
Mountain or quad biking on the thrilling and spectacular routes around the vicinity will definitely appeal to trailblazers and adrenaline junkies.
We insist that every guest to Kalopanayiotis, without exception, take a stroll through the village. The combination of its traditional housing (protected by the state as a historical monument), the most scenic back streets you’ve ever seen and spectacular views of the mountains and surrounding environs, cannot be missed.
Generally, Kalopanayiotites (let’s hope they excuse me for this) take praise in having not destroyed their old buildings. They forever seek to renovate and reinforce them: in the village centre, therefore, you won’t see any new houses at all… but it’s entirely possible you’ll encounter rebuilt ones, combined with modern constructions.
Conference and Cultural Centre
The Cultural Centre of Agios Ioannis Lampadisitis was founded in 1991 and is situated in the renovated House of Lavrentis, in the historical section of the village. The centre has a large conference hall, meetings hall, exhibition space and offices.
This traditional house — where an exhibition on ethnography and the land’s history is on permanent display — is the first residence of Archbishop Lavrentis (one of those consequently executed by the Turks in 1821 and buried in Faneromeni square).
Nowadays, the Cultural centre regularly hosts conferences and weddings, while concerts are held in the former monastery (for example, Georgios Patsalidis, a musician from Vienna, performed there in August 2016).
Trout Fishing
The first sight you encounter on approaching the village is the local water reserve. Unique reservoirs are used here to breed trout, which are then released “freely” in Autumn, after which the fishing season opens. For the first few days, most fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder with one another…but a couple of weeks later and all the fish turn out to have been caught. Once again, peace and tranquillity reign over this spot. If you don’t make the “season” in time, then just come along to marvel at the water’s surface… and don’t forget to order some trout in the nearby restaurant.
Your trip comes to, and end and many of you are used to bringing something back from your travels; a way to remember them or simply a gift for friends and colleagues. So, here’s a bit of advice: where to shop and what to buy in Kalopanayiotis:
Traditional Food Products and Souvenirs in Kalopanyiotis
Sudzhuko (we already know that this traditional sweet is made from wine syrup). Local brands: Sudzhuko-paluze (tel: +357 99568097, 357 22952175); Soutzoukos (Cyprus products, tel: +357 22952175)
Honey products (tel: +357 99438247, 357 22952226)
Water from the sulphur springs (it’s free, from the springs on both slopes along the River Setrakhos, by the monastery)
Getting there: it’s easy to reach the village from Nicosia, Limassol and international airports of Larnaca and Paphos.
From Nicosia — travel 70 km along the A9 and B9 highway, taking the E908 which leads you through Akaki, Astromeritis, Koutrafas, Linou and Katydata, heading in the direction of Kykkos Monastery.
From Limassol — 75 km, along the B8 highway (and the E801 road), then take the B9 (E908 road) — you’ll go through Saitas and Amiantos, heading in the direction of Kakopetria, Evrychou, Linou and Katidata.
For more information, see www.kalopanayiotis.com
Happy Holidays and Until Next Time!
