Skarfos Bridge
We have been meaning to blog about the Venetian Bridges for some time, so today I thought I would start with Skarfos, as this is easily accessible and is the Western-most Venetian Bridge that I am aware of. Situated just off the road to Simou from the B7, it may not be the most spectacular bridge Cyprus has to offer, but there are enough other attractions nearby to make it worth your journey, as you shall see...
Map of the Area
To get to Skarfos Bridge, take the road to Simou off the B7.
Clearly Signposted
Skarfos Bridge is clearly signposted. The Venetians ruled Cyprus from 1489-1571, the most well known bridges (Roudia, Kelefos and Elia) formed part of the Camel Trail which the Venetians would use to transport resources from the island. Whether Skarfos was part of that trail, or just a convenient bridge, I don't know. Little is written about Skarfos.
Spring View
I should point out that I took most of these shots a few months ago, in March. As you will see, the scenery is a lot more brown in August.
Evretou
In the distance, you can see the abandoned village of Evretou. If you fancy a gentle off-road you can visit here in the same trip, as the track from Skarfos Bridge is very good. You can also visit Trimithousa, though that is a bit bumpier. If you are feeling really adventurous, you can even carry on up to Melandra. That trip will show you three of the most interesting abandoned villages in Paphos, though you will probably want a 4x4. I certainly wouldn't try it in anything else.
August View
This was the same view taken today (14th August 2017). The scenery is now a lot browner, though still beautiful.
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From Polemi To Polis
A couple of weeks ago I had an errand to run down in Polis. It was a clear, sunny day, so I took the camera and went the scenic route. Well, two scenic routes, as it turned out. So join us on this trip through the Paphos countryside....
Roudia Bridge
Now that we have covered the route from Vretsia to Kelefos, let's return to the subject of Venetian Bridges. This time, we will feature Roudia Bridge. For years this eluded us, as we drove past it without realising it was there. With the help of the previous blog, you should now be able to locate it and know where to park the car. So let's take a look at the bridge itself...
Abandoned Villages - Melandra
We first stumbled upon Melandra last Autumn. We were trying to find an interesting route from Pano Panagia to Polis, and having visited a number of isolated villages, decided to venture off-road. The countryside at the time was very brown and arid. So when we revisited the village this May, we hardly recognised the place.
Simou
As promised at the end of our last blog about Skarfos Bridge, we now take a lot at the village of Skarfos, nestled 16km oustide of Polis, and see what it has to offer.
Elia Bridge
Like its more famous neighbour, Elia Bridge spans the Diarizos River in the south western corner of Paphos Forest. Along with Roudia and Kelefos, it forms the Venetian Bridges Nature Trail, which is a lovely route, even if you do opt to drive, rather than hike it's distance. Let's take a quick peek...
Archimandrita Bridge
There are a number of Venetian Bridges dotted around Cyprus, dating from the middle ages. We've already visited some of the most popular one (Kelefos, Roudia and Skarfos etc) but while we were researching the village of Archimandrita, we heard reference of a nearby Venetian Bridge that had previously escaped our radar. So naturally we had to find it...
From Simou to Polis
The end of the year is fast approaching, but we thought there was still time to squeeze in one last road trip before the bells ring in the New Year. So join us as we take a scenic route from Simou to Polis, and revisit some old haunts along the way, with some new surprises...
Skarfos Revisited
It's been quite some time since we visited Skarfos Bridge. One of the most accessible of the Venetian Bridges in the Paphos region, it is nevertheless off most people's radars. It has recently had a bit of a face-lift, so hopefully that will change. Skarfos Bridge is definitely open for business...Good Pages To Visit
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eBookCyprus Road Trip 01: the Kathikas - Panagia Loop
Let me take you on a journey around the region of Paphos, Cyprus. Starting at Paphos itself, we travel to Akoursos, then Kathikas, Kritou Terra and Simou. We continue past Lasa and Kannaviou, before taking in the delights of Panagia. Getting a bit more adventurous, we visit the abandoned villages of Statos and Agios Fotios, before passing through Choulou, Letymbou and Polemi, and rejoining the main Paphos - Polis road.
The route is suitable for all types of vehicle, and requires no off-roading. The guide contains about 130 photographs including shots of all the road signs you need to pay attention to, as well as some of the highlights you may experience along the way.
There are also several maps which will help you keep your bearings.
You can do this journey in a day, or you can break it up into chunks. You can also do it in reverse, to get some completely different views. It is entirely up to you.
