Lemesos (limassol) - Cyprus
152;Agios Mamantos 15th Century Church.ò€™ The church is below road level and all you can see as you approach is part of the sloping red roof. The church houses some of the islandò€™s best preserved 15th century frescoes. In the churchyard is a restored olive press. A walk round round this part of the village will give you glimpses of old stone-built houses, some of which are restored, large, bread ovens, and massive pitharia wine jars. To leave, dirve back through the village and go left at the small green signpost to Kakomallis Forest Station. After 200 metres, go right at the crossroads onto K.Evagorou Street.Cyprus Hotels As you descend, you will be driving through the western edges of Kakomallis Forest. Go left at the main road and go left again at the signpost to Apsiou. The map at the village entrance points you to the paved village centre, a winery, traditional houses and an old water mill. Leave on the road signposted to Mathikoloni and go right, following the blue road sign at the fork after the village. As you drive down the mountain, there is a deep river valley to your left. Mathikoloni, the modern part of which lines the main road, once belonged to the Grand Commanderie of the Knights of St John. The old part of the village is on the slopes below and legend says that it was made up of seven ò€˜guartersò€™ and had seven churches. There are the remains of two watermills by the stream that bisects the village. As you contunie, the view opens up and you can see the village of Akrounta in the valley below and the road along which you drove earlier snaks up the hillside opposite. Just before the road turns away from this valley, there is a glimpse of Germasogia dam below and opposite, at eye level is the rock-face on top of a crag that you passed on the way to Germasogia Dam. After driving through a small gully, an amazing panorama awaits you. The vista sweeps from Amathous to your left, through to the Akrotiri peninsula and beyond. Many Limassolians have built houses in this area, as the newly improved road allows them to commute daily from homes on a cool hillside with an extraordinary view.