Kykkos Monastery

　　Kykkos Monastery is situated in a small village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus and is one of the most renowned monasteries in the country. It dates back to the 11th century and was built by Alexios I, boasting a long and storied past.

　　The monastery is perched on a cliff at an altitude of 1,318 meters in the northwestern part of the Troodos Mountains. Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, began his monastic life here in 1926. He passed away in 1977 and was buried nearby—his tomb is just 3 kilometers from the monastery. It has since become a widely celebrated tourist destination. The monastery has survived several fires, and the current structures date from the 19th and 20th centuries. It is said that the icon of the Virgin Mary housed in the monastery is one of only three religious paintings in existence created by Luke the Evangelist.

　　Kykkos Monastery Reason to visit: One of the most famous monasteries in Cyprus Continent: Asia Country/Region: Cyprus Province/State: Nicosia District