Travel Guide Platanistasa

This well-preserved village is a fine example of traditional Cypriot mountain architecture, with its stone houses and steep streets. Its name could come from the many plane trees that grow here, or from a former Lusignan palace that no longer exists. Situated at an altitude of 940 meters, Platanistasa is best known for its Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati church, one of ten painted churches on the Troodos listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other churches in the village include Agios Ioannis Theologos (17th century), Archangelos Michail (19th century) and Panagia Katafugiotissa (1954), on Katofydi hill to the south. The small folk museum to the south-east appeared to be closed when we last visited. Nearby, however, the Diosmati delicatessen (closed on Mondays) offers traditional delicacies: dried goat's meat with oregano (tsamarella) or mint (apohti), smoked pork loin (lountza) and smoked sausages.