In the Troodos mountains, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis stands as a record of the island’s Byzantine inheritance. Also known as the Church of St Nicholas of the Roof, it is celebrated for well-preserved frescoes and for an architectural feature you will not see often elsewhere.
The roof that named it
The church dates back to the 11th century, and its name translates as “St Nicholas of the Roof”. It is known for a distinctive steep-pitched roof covered with wooden shingles — rare among the Byzantine churches of Cyprus. It protected the structure from the weather, and gave the building the silhouette it is recognised by.
The style blends Byzantine and post-Byzantine influences: a single-aisled domed basilica with thick stone walls and a timber roof frame. Inside, elements from different periods sit together, so the interior reads as a record of how building on the island changed.
The painting
What sets the church apart is its frescoes, dating from the 11th to the 17th century — scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints, forming a visual account of Byzantine religious tradition. Beyond the devotional content they are a source on daily life, custom and dress in the Byzantine period.
More sightseeing around Troodos
Church of Panagia tis Asinou
An 11th-century church south of Nikitari, and some of the finest Byzantine painting on the island.
Kakopetria village
Two rivers, timber balconies and a mill at the bottom of the old street.
Ayios Ioannis Lambadistis
Opposite Kalopanayiotis in the Marathasa valley — UNESCO-listed since 1985.
Trooditissa Monastery
A centuries-old pilgrimage monastery high in the pines above Platres.