Mathiatis – Churches, Mines and Cycling Route

Mathiatis brings together churches and chapels, mining heritage and two routes with different focuses. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Mathiatis, you can explore the village according to your interests: architectural history and religious imagery on the one hand, mines and landscape on the other. Specific points of interest include a church dating from 1728, a chapel with a special dedication, two mines, the Copper Cultural Route and a gravel cycling route.

Churches with different points of interest

The Church of Agia Paraskevi in Mathiatis was built in 1728. The Church of Apostolos Varnavas is in the heart of the village and is almost entirely covered with paintings of saints. The two buildings have different points of interest: at Agia Paraskevi, the focus is on its precise construction date, while at Apostolos Varnavas it is the near-complete painted interior. Those interested in churches can therefore compare them in terms of architectural history and imagery.

The Chapel of Agia Eirini Chrysovalantou in Mathiatis was the first church in Cyprus to be dedicated to Saint Agia Eirini Chrysovalantou. Unlike the construction date of Agia Paraskevi or the paintings of saints at Apostolos Varnavas, the dedication is the key point of interest here. The three sacred sites can thus be considered through different questions: when they were built, their interior paintings and their religious dedication.

Mines and mining landscape

There are two mines in the municipality of Mathiatis. North of the municipality is a newer gold, silver and iron mine; south of the municipality, at the foot of Mount Stroggylos, is a gold mine. Their locations and mineral resources set the two descriptions apart: the northern mine is associated with three metals, while the southern one is associated with gold and Mount Stroggylos.

On the Copper Cultural Route, the next stop is the Mathiatis South Copper Mine. Along the way, fragrant pine trees give way to colourful gossans leading to the copper mine lake. The route thus adds a described sequence of landscapes to the mines’ location.

Routes and getting around the village

Mathiatis is also associated with cycling. Gravel cycling route Sia–Mathiatis–Delikipo–Sia, Route 6, passes scenic chapels and reaches the village of Mathiatis. Unlike the Copper Cultural Route, whose next stop is the Mathiatis South Copper Mine, Route 6 focuses on the cycling route and the chapels. The difference is clear when choosing between them: a gravel cycling route with chapels on the one hand, and a copper mine and sequence of landscapes on the other.

The British Cemetery is at the entrance to the village of Mathiatis, on the road from Agia Varvara to Mathiatis. Its location therefore differs from that of the Church of Apostolos Varnavas, which is in the heart of the village: the cemetery is associated with the village entrance and the road, while the church is associated with the village centre.

Discover more destinations: Lythrodontas, Gourri, Kalopanayiotis, Palaichori, Lakatamia, Aghia Marina, Aglantzia, Arapköy.

For the broader travel overview: Nicosia.