Must-seeUNESCO
Panagia Asinou Church (Forviotissa)
One of the best-known painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
The story
This small church under a steep wooden roof stands by a stream in the northern foothills of Troodos. It was once the main church of the Forvion monastery, hence its second name, Forviotissa. The monastery was abandoned at the end of the eighteenth century, and only the church remained. The dedication inscription above the south entrance is dated 1105 to 1106. It says the church was built at the expense of the Byzantine nobleman Nikiforos Ischyrios. The paintings inside were made from the early twelfth to the seventeenth century, and they show how painting on the island changed. Since 1985 the church has been part of the UNESCO site “Painted Churches in the Troodos Region,” which now has ten churches.
Panagia Asinou (Forviotissa), near the village of Nikitari in Nicosia district, is one of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The official guide to Cyprus names it among the most remarkable, together with Panagia tou Araka and Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis.
Visiting
According to the Department of Antiquities, entry is free; open Mon–Sat 9:30–16:00, Sundays and holidays 10:00–16:00. Hours may change with the season, so call before you go: 22852922. This is a working church: wear clothes that cover you.
Photos
Sources
- Department of Antiquities of Cyprus — Church of Panagia (Our Lady) tis Asinou, Nikitari
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Painted Churches in the Troodos Region (351)
- Deputy Ministry of Tourism — Official Guide to Cyprus 2026 (Greek), section on UNESCO painted churches
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