Imagine you are leaving the hot coast of Cyprus. You delve into the cool, centuries -old forest of Troodos. Here, under the canopy of giant pines, stone witnesses of the past are hidden.
In the depths of the Paphos forest, far from tourist routes, a whole network of old bridges is hidden. They were built during the Venetian rule, in the XV-XVI centuries.
Road for camels
These elegant structures were not intended for carriages. They served part of the trade routes. Caravans of pack animals - mules, donkeys and even camels passed along them. They transported copper, wood and other wealth from the mountains to the port cities. Caught trails were arteries of medieval Cyprus. The bridges were thrown through the stormy mountain rivers, which in the spring became insurmountable. Each bridge was built taking into account the landscape. A characteristic hunchbacked form helped to ensure strength with a minimum of materials, withstand the pressure of the flow, distribute the load, and pass floodwater. The trails themselves almost disappeared, although some of them are restored and used for high -haking. Stone bridges remained, recalling the former greatness and heavy work of the people of the past. Their search is a real adventure.
Bridge Chelefos: The most famous
Your journey, most likely, will begin with the Chelefos bridge. This is the largest and most famous of the Venetian bridges. Its powerful stone arch is gracefully bending the diarysos river. Around - a dense forest. It is easy to get here by car. Leave it and go down to the water. Feel the coolness of the stone, hear the noise of the river and bird singing. This place has a special magic.
Coordinates: 34.9125, 32.7152.
Passage: a good road from the village of Hagios Nikolaos or from Platres, through Mandria.
Elia and Rudyas: reward for stubborn
Not far from Chelefos is the Elia bridge (Olive Bridge). This is a secluded and picturesque bridge.
Coordinates: 34.9181, 32.6979.
Passage: you can on a regular car, the bridge is very close to the road.
But to find the third bridge, Rudyas, you will need perseverance. The road to it is more difficult, often a SUV is often required. But the reward is worth it. The Rudyas bridge is in complete solitude, in the heart of a wild forest. Here you are unlikely to meet other tourists. The feeling of discovery and merging with nature will be incredibly strong.
Coordinates: 34.9045, 32.6581.
Passage: only an SUV or on foot. The entrance through the dirt road from the village of Agios Nikolaos or from the south, from the fireplace.
All three bridges are connected by the pedestrian natural path of Venetian Bridges Trail.
The study of Venetian bridges is a small adventure, immersion in the silence and history of the island. Whatever the bridge you visit, you will take away with you something more than a photo. You will pick up a small particle of the old, forest Cyprus.
The material was prepared by Ekaterina Andreevakanal in Telegram
