Excursion to Panagia Kanakaria – Panagia Eleousa – Saint Phylon 07 February

Salonica View organizes a spiritual and historical excursion to the northeastern villages and monuments of the Karpasia Peninsula.

A few words about our excursion:

We depart in the morning from Nicosia (Cyprus Handicraft Centre), with a boarding stop at Pascal, Larnaca. We then head towards the Pergamos checkpoint, passing through Pyla. Our first stop will be at Panagia Kanakaria, followed by a visit to Rizokarpaso. Our second stop will be at Panagia Eleousa, near Rizokarpaso. We then continue towards the area of the ancient harbor of Karpasia, approximately 5 kilometers north of Rizokarpaso, where the foundations of an Early Christian basilica have been excavated. This basilica is believed to have been the cathedral of the ancient city of Karpasia. Within the ruins of the basilica stands the Church of Saint Phylon, which we will also visit. At the end of the excursion, there will be free time for lunch and rest at a Greek Cypriot tavern in Rizokarpaso.

Points of Interest

Panagia Eleousa:
An important double-aisled church of the 15th century, combining Byzantine and Gothic architectural elements. The two aisles are separated by characteristic Gothic arches and end in semicircular apses. The southern entrance is particularly impressive, decorated with columns, pointed arches and star-shaped motifs—typical examples of Gothic art in Cyprus.

Panagia Kanakaria:
A Byzantine church located in Lythrangomi (Boltaşlı), on the Karpasia Peninsula of the Famagusta district in Cyprus. Since 1974, the wider area in which the church is located belongs to the unrecognized state of Northern Cyprus.
Panagia Kanakaria is renowned for its 6th-century AD Byzantine mosaics, which were originally inside the church before being removed by antiquities traffickers in the late 1970s, as also happened at the nearby church of Panagia tis Kyras.

Saint Phylon:
Near the ancient harbor of Karpasia, approximately 5 kilometers north of Rizokarpaso, in a beautiful location, stands the church dedicated to Saint Phylon. The church dates to the 11th–12th century and was built on the ruins of an Early Christian basilica of the 4th–5th century AD, which was likely destroyed during Arab raids.
Elements from both churches survive. The original church was a small three-aisled basilica, while the later incorporated church is of the cross-in-square type with a dome, covering the central and southern aisles of the basilica, though not its entire length. The walls are built of roughly dressed ashlar limestone blocks.
In the northern aisle, remnants of a clay sarcophagus are preserved, believed to be the tomb of Saint Phylon.

Participation Cost (per person):

€25 per person (excluding food)

** Payment will be made on the bus

The price includes:

1. Escort and organization
2. Transportation by bus

You should bring with you:

1. ID card or passport (If you reside in Cyprus and are a foreign national, please also bring your yellow slip)***A valid ID card or passport is required for crossing the checkpoint. The ID must not expire within the next 2 months
2. Personal belongings
3. Snacks
4. Water

Note 1:When making your booking, please state in the message where you will board the bus.

Note 2:For the smooth operation of the event and for safety reasons, participants must comply with the instructions of the escorts.

Note 3:In case of cancellation of the event due to adverse weather conditions, the excursion will be transferred to another date. Participants who cannot attend on the new date will receive a refund. If weather conditions still do not allow the event to take place, the event will be permanently cancelled and all participants will receive a full refund.

Note 4:Photographic material is shared on our page and on social media after each event. By participating in a Salonica View event, you accept the sharing of photos. Otherwise, please inform us accordingly.

Note 5 – Cancellation Policy:In case of cancellation less than 48 hours before the event or non-attendance at the activity/excursion, participants will be required to cover the full participation cost. This policy applies to cover operational expenses and reservations already made.

Note 6:The escorts reserve the right to adjust the stops of the excursion and the program according to the available time, without omitting important points of interest.

BOOKING:

ΕΔΩ/HERE

After completing your booking, 6–7 days before the excursion, we will contact you to confirm your details and participation.

INFORMATION REGARDING ALL OUR EXCURSIONS:

Four days before the excursion, usually on Wednesday, an official update will be sent to all participants regarding whether the excursion will take place.

Confirmation depends on:

1. completion of the required minimum number of participants,
2. weather conditions,
3. and other organizational factors.