As you can imagine, the trail got its name from the goddess Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. The beautiful, brilliant, often capricious and cruel goddess, like describing the ancient Greeks, was the patron of wild animals, mountains and forests.
The route follows a circular path around the Chionistra at an average altitude of 1850m. With the help of the trail information signs, you will have the opportunity to explore the forest. It meetings both ancient black pine trees ages beyond 500 years, the rich and rare flora (with items such consequences, tefkrion, chain, chachomilia and invisible) and will be able to edit the rocks of the area (such as dunite, charzvourgiti, pyroxenites) . Also, you will enjoy beautiful views of regions and villages of Lemesos, Pafos and Nicosia. The entire route is dipped into the Troodos National Forest Park are area NATURA 2000.
The route does not present significant ups and downs until the end after the Ski Center, where the route is slightly uphill to 200-300 meters.
Historical interest are Teisia Old Town which are ruins makeshift fortifications were built in the last year of the Venetian period in Cyprus (1571m.Ch.) Group of Venetian generals in order to defend themselves against the Ottomans. Having watched from here the conquest of the country (Nicosia), fearing the power of the Ottomans decided to surrender.
VEGETATION AND FLORA
The entire route is in the zone of black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. Pallasiana) which is the dominant forest tree. The forests are largely natural. The dense understorey encountered lower here because there is no golden oak, the strawberry even Xystaria not thrive in these altitudes. Common items are outside the black pine, the Invisible or Troodos Juniper (Juniperus foetidissima), the Agriomilia (Sorbus aria), the barberry (Berberis cretica) and Agriokydonia (Cotoneaster nummularia). If you are careful you will see many native plants such as the Troodos euphorbias (Euphorbia cassia subsp. Rigoi), the Anthemis the plutonic (Anthemis ploutonia), the Troodos Spatzia (Salvia willeana), the Ankle Chionistra (Astragalus echinus subsp. Chionistrae ), the Troodos chain (Alyssum troodi), the Troodos consequences (Nepeta troodi) etc. Also in some parts of the route the endemic cedar planted (Cedrus brevifolia).
The flora of the Troodos is very rich and unique. It is noteworthy that, at least at the two plants meet in this route is endemic to Cyprus or the Troodos or end not found anywhere else in Cyprus only here.
GEOLOGY
The rock you will see dominating the surrounding area is charzvourgitis in which appear small dunite bodies. These rocks are penetrated by younger gabbro pegmatite veins, and rodingkiti pyroxenites. Along the fault charzvourgitis has turned into green serpentinite. The charzvourgitis are refractory residue remained almost below the bottom of the ocean Tethys and creating magma of basaltic composition, from which came the other rocks of the ophiolite complex before about 92 million years after the partial melting of upper mantle at depths of 60 km .
It is indeed impressive to consider someone that walking in the Troodos top is like walking on rocks of the upper mantle of the earth. This really is unique and in a few places in the world you can meet !!
SERVICES
In the nearby villages of Troodos mountain range you will find many taverns to rest and to try the traditional cuisine of Cyprus, as well as traditional local products that you can take with you. In Troodos Square there are shops, restaurants, hotels and public toilets. Near the square, you will see the Environmental Information Center and the ski resort of Cyprus Ski Federation, which attracts many visitors during the months of January and February. The trail also connects with the Atalanti trail.
Enjoy the beautifull destination!
Starting point: 300m from the road connecting point to Chionistra the Troodos - Prodromos
Length: 7 km
Considerable time 2,5 - 3 hours
Degree of difficulty: 1
Form: round
ADDRESS: Olympus, Troodos