The First Lady encourages people to explore the Troodos Mountains. She has identified four trails.

Troodos in summer can look completely different from the island's coast. First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus, Philippa Karsera Christodoulides, encourages residents and families with children to explore mountain forests, villages, and nature trails. In her latest post, she highlights four routes that are particularly worth exploring.

This year's mountain scenery also caught her attention. After rainfall, you can see flowing streams and waterfalls on the trails, and even trout in the mountain streams. The First Lady described the Troodos nature trails as "hidden treasures."

Troodos is also worth showing to children

Philippa Karsera Christodoulides stressed that the mountains should not be treated only as a place for winter trips.

It encourages families to take their children to forests, trails and traditional villages, allowing them to experience a different side of the island – away from the beaches and seaside resorts.

Four routes appeared in the materials she published: Kalidonia, Persephone, Kampos tou Livadiou and the Makarios Trail.

Kalidonia – along the river to the waterfall

The most recognizable of them is Calydonia.

The trail runs through a dense forest along Kryos Potamos, meaning "Cold River", and leads past one of the most famous Troodos waterfalls.

The official route is approximately 3 kilometers, and it takes an average of about an hour and a half to complete. The trail connects the Troodos area with Psilo Dentro above Pano Platres.

Kryos Potamos is one of the few mountain streams that retains water year-round. The river also stocks trout.

Persephone high in the mountains

The second of the indicated routes is Persephone Trail.

This trail starts near the main square of Troodos and leads to an altitude of approximately 1,700 meters.

Current Forestry Department materials describe it as a route of approximately 5 kilometers, which takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete.

Unlike Calidonia, this isn't primarily a waterfall trail. Its greatest assets are the forest, the altitude, and the views along the way.

Kampos tou Livadiou among the old pine trees

The First Lady also showed Kampos tou Livadiou.

This approximately 3-kilometer loop runs through Troodos National Forest Park. The trail winds through black pines and junipers, some of which are over a hundred years old.

The trail offers views of, among others, the Solea Valley and the area around Morfou Bay.

Also nearby is the Kampos tou Livadiou picnic area.

There is also a trail related to Makarios III

The least known of the routes shown is the path associated with Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of the Republic of Cyprus.

The First Lady drew attention to the recent mapping of the route leading to the spot from which Makarios was supposed to look towards his hometown. Panagia.

The path itself and its connection to Makarios, however, are not entirely new. Older materials relating to the presidential residence in Troodos also mention the route Makarios is said to have followed during his stays in the mountains.

What is new, then, is its re-arrangement and presentation as a route to be discovered, rather than the existence of the path itself.

This year's rains have changed the landscape

The first lady's post comes after an exceptionally rainy part of August.

In recent days, rainfall in the mountains has once again fuelled the streams and waterfalls, creating views unusual for the height of a Cypriot summer.

Karsera Christodoulides drew attention not only to the water but also to the richness of the local vegetation. Troodos is one of the most important natural areas on the island, and a significant portion of the indicated routes pass through Troodos National Forest Park.

Thanks to forest workers

The First Lady also used her post to thank employees of the Forestry Department.

She stressed that those responsible for Cyprus' forests work around the clock to maintain and protect them, and in some situations, they carry out their duties at the risk of their own safety.

At the same time, she appealed to visitors to help protect Troodos.

The simplest rule is also the most important: After a visit to the forest, only traces of our shoes on the trail should remain, not garbage.

Source: Philippa Karsera Christodoulides / Forestry Department / Visit Cyprus