| The Holy, Royal and Stavropegic Monastery of | | | | The Monastery unfortunately doesn't have any |
| Kykkos is said to be the richest and most | | | | remains of the original structure, as years have |
| exuberant of all monasteries in Cyprus. It is based | | | | gone by it has been burnt down several times, so |
| in the region of Marathasa, situated on a mountain | | | | it is a monastery that looks modern. Some people |
| peak, at an altitude of 1318 metres north west of | | | | would feel that the monastery's museum would |
| Troodos. | | | | be similar to modern museums but they are |
| | | | | wrong. As they say themselves it is not a |
| Founded between the end of the 11th century | | | | museum that is completely separate from the |
| and the beginning of the 12th century, by | | | | functional space of the items it exhibits and |
| Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081 | | | | neither is it a museum that contains exhibits only |
| – 1118AD). A Cypriot Hermit Isaiah cured his | | | | on the strength of their artistic value as are the |
| daughter from an incurable illness, so as an award | | | | museums of ancient Greek art. It is a museum |
| the emperor sent his precious treasure the icon | | | | situated inside the monastery itself and like its |
| of the Theotokos to Cyprus and constructed the | | | | treasury it forms an integral part of it. Its exhibits |
| Monastery, as a place where the relic would be | | | | such as icons, holy objects, woodcarvings, |
| kept. The hermit also got the emperor to send a | | | | vestments, embroideries, manuscripts etc., are |
| representative to get the monastery and three | | | | exhibited as part of the living adoration and the |
| villages endowed. The first president of Cyprus, | | | | history of the monastery. Although it still follows |
| Arch bishop Makarios III who served as a novice | | | | all the specifications of a modern museum, the |
| monk at the monastery, became fond of the | | | | museum does feature several items that have |
| place and he returned several times after. He | | | | survived the numerous destructions that the |
| loved the place so much that he requested he'd | | | | monastery has faced. |
| be buried there and he was at the summit of | | | | |
| Throni. | | | | They usually hold two religious fairs on September |
| | | | | 8th which is the Birth of the Virgin and another |
| The location of the monastery is in Marathasa | | | | one at August 15th that is the Dormition of the |
| Valley, which is an area that is located that takes | | | | Virgin. The Monastery produces Zivania and |
| up the northern slopes of the mountain range. It | | | | various other alcoholic drinks. Zivania is a traditional |
| is a very fertile area in which the Marathos plant | | | | Cypriot beverage, made from pomace. The grape |
| grows, which is where it got its name from. | | | | skins, stems and seeds are press during a wine |
| Cherries also grow in this area as well and are | | | | making process then are mixed with high quality |
| said to be the best in Cyprus and when the | | | | dry wines which are produced by the local grape |
| cherry blossoms in Spring it is a sight for sore | | | | varieties of Cyprus (but in Kykkos case in house) |
| eyes so it boasts some of the most | | | | The mixture is then distilled in a special distillation |
| luckiest villas in Cyprus as you would have a | | | | apparatus which produces the Zivania. The drink is |
| great scenery and snack nearby. | | | | a colourless and very alcoholic with an aroma of |
| | | | | raisins. |