Artemis nature trail part 1

 Artemis Trail taking its name after the dynamic, pioneer and Olympian Goddess Artemis, protector of wild animals, mountain, forests and leader of the Amazons. The hiking route rotates around the Chionistra, at an altitude of 1850m. With the aiding signalling you can widen the forested scope. Along the trail you will find two of the longest living black pines, aging 500 years. In the forest there are many rare types of flora species such as the nepeta, the teucrium, the alison, the chamomile and the invisible and of unmatched notable value rocks such as dunite, harzburgite, pyroxenite. Of similar historic importance and notability are the Wall of the Old Chora which are ruins of the fortification work structure during the last year of the Venetian period in Cyprus (1571 AD), by one of the military team of the Venetian with the goal to hold off the attack of the Ottomans. After the observation of the occupation of the at the time Chora ( Nisocia) powerless against the Ottomas the decided to surrender. The panoramic vies is unique. The visitors are like Olympian gods watching from above the outskirts of the Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia provinces surrounded by a verdant green treasure. The route is part of National Forest Park of Troodos, which is included in the NATURA 2000 region. The trail is not distinguished by a particular difficulty apart from its finish point, after the Skiing Centre, where the trail turns into an upward wave of an uphill route for 200-300 meters.

400 year old Pine tree at Atalante nature trail

located at the start of the trail, at Troodos square, it's declared a monument tree and protected by the forest department

Atalante nature trail Troodos 1

from the website
http://www.cyprus-travel-secrets.com/troodos-walks.html

"It's a 12km circular walk around Mount Olympus starting from Troodos Square and the maximum elevation change is only 50m. Walking or biking at a height of 1700-1750m is pure pleasure as you negotiate rocky tracks among the dense forest of Pinus Nigra and Juniper Pheonicia.

Views of the entire island (including the North on a clear day) are simply spectacular and half-way round you will see the entrance to a disused chromium mine which ceased operations in 1982.

Allow 4-5 hours for this walk which, though only 12km long , can be tiring for people who have never walked at altitude before."

I only went halfway, because I am not very fit and it is indeed tiring.

Kalidonia nature trail part 1