Venetian Bridges
VENETIAN BRIDGES
Photo thanks to Annika and Per Darland.
These beautiful bridges in spectacular scenery are all that remain of dozens which were built by the Venetians in the 15th and 16th century to carry copper by camel to Paphos from the mines in the Troodos.
Two of the most important bridges are in the Diarizos Valley. While locating the bridges is notoriously difficult, the main routes get us there pretty directly from Pissouri: take our usual route up to Troodos (motorway to Avdimou, Pachna and on towards Omodos). Leave the E601 before Vasa and take the main turn to Dora and Kouklia. It turns right towards Arsos fairly soon. From Arsos go to Agios Nikolaos.
Kelefos Bridge, which is signposted before you reach the Village, is about another 6 km.An alternative route is to Oomodos and follow the sign to Ayios Nikolaos.
We recommend that you turn right on the road to Kaminaria immediately before you reach the Kelefos Bridge at the river. 3 km further on is Elia Bridge, the smallest of the bridges (Tries Elies). Then retrace your steps to see the Kelefos Bridge. (If you continue the road to Kaminaria, while it is very picturesque, you will have a long, windy detour to get back to the main Platres/Limassol road via Fini).
After returning to see the Kelefos Bridge, in just about any 4x4 you can cross the ford and make your way up the dirt road into the forest to the beautiful Forestry Department Picnic spot at Pera Vasa. You carry on from here to the Roudias Bridge, 7 km (see the sign below!). Roudia Bridge in the next river valley west of the Diarizos, the Xeros Potamos. (Check your maps!)
It would be better to come back from here via Vretsia to Kouklia.
If you do not have a 4x4 you can simply do the first two bridges and you will have plenty of time to potter back through the beautiful Kaminaria route.
These bridges are on the Venetian Bridges Trail and the European Long Distance Trail.
Please let us know any improvements to these routes, be prepared to get lost and take some time over the trip. 4x4 recommended.
The remains of Skarfos Bridge are much further west (another excuse to go to Fyti for lunch), and therefore for a separate trip (unless you are very determined and set out early enough in the day).
The CTO Venetian Bridges linear Enetika Gefyria (Venetian Bridges) Trail Nature Trail sounds like a fantastic trip for dedicated (and very fit) hikers, but it is not a casual day trip. It takes in the medieval bridges of Elia, Tsielefos and Roydia, through dense pine forest, over Arminou dam and past Pera Vasa picnic site (where there is a huge dry tree trunk of the Pera Vasa pine).
The best time to go is spring/autumn/winter, when it is green and there are wild flowers out.
Kelefos Bridge at the end of April. On the map you will see it is called Tzielefos Bridge.
The picnic site at Pera Vasa, across the ford at the Kelefos Bridge
Flowers on the road to Kaminaria, end of April
Other sources:
http://www.triptocyprus.com/blog/2008/02/elia-bridge-venetian-bridges-in-cyprus.html
http://www.cyprus-travel-secrets.com/venetian-bridges-in-cyprus.html
http://www.cypruswalkingfriends.com/the-medieval-bridges/