Panagia Asinou (Forviotissa) Church

Asinou Church (also spelt 'Assinou') is a tiny, 12th century shrine to the Virgin Mary, located in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to frescoes that are strikingly beautiful and considered to be some of the greatest examples of mural painting in Cyprus. There are more than 100 paintings, most of them dating from the 12th–14th century. Some sources also attribute these to the 17th century. The paintings are based on the life of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints, and depict classic themes such as the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.

The church is located about 5 kilometers away from Nikitari on the Nicosia-Troodos road, and about 20 kilometers north to the village of Kakopetria. The route is winding and scenic, scented with the pine that dots the mountainsides. The site of the church is peaceful and quite rural; making it a great place to unwind, especially if you are careworn and tired of the bustle of the cities.

The structure of the church is simple and unassuming with a rectangular base and a vaulted dome. Also known as the Church of Panaghia Phorviotissa, it was built using mud and mortar and was reconstructed several times following its collapse.

Visitors can choose to stay in one of the many hotels at Nicosia or Kakopetria and choose to hike, drive down, or take a bicycle trail to the church.

The church receives as many as four bus loads of visitors during summers, revealing its popularity as a tourist destination. The priest usually takes visitors around. But if he is not available at the church itself, you can call him on his mobile number or ask for him at the nearby village of Nikitari. There is a Feast Day service held on certain days. However, the service takes place very early at about 0700 hours and you will have to start early if you want to catch it.

Nicosia and Kakopetria provide a range of hotels and self-catering villas, offering modern amenities. Visitors can choose from among these, or try out a more rural lifestyle at the nearby village of Spilia. Unless you decide to hike down, or take a bicycle, you will need a car to reach the church. Car rental agencies can be easily contacted and parking is available at the south side of the building. The village of Spilia is popular with hikers and provides rural accommodation to those interested. Look out for the church belfry that is prominent on the Spilia skyline.

Highlights:

• The church is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its deceptively simple structure houses a wealth of strikingly beautiful frescoes.

• It is open to visitors throughout the year and is also available for weddings and baptisms.

• The name Asinou comes from the ancient city of Asine founded by Greeks.

Look Out For:

• Cameras are not allowed inside the church. Photography is prohibited

• If you are taking the priest's assistance, you will have to drop him back to his home

• The Troodos mountains are a highly scenic range and the scenery can be distracting for someone driving a car in the region for the first time. This is apart from the bends and steep inclines that the driver will encounter