Pano Lefkara

About

Up in the Troodos mountains, Lefkara is a picturesque warren of cobbled streets lined with terracotta-roofed houses. But its allure comes from something much finer: it’s been a renowned center for silversmithing and lace weakening for centuries. In fact, according to local legend, Leonardo DaVinci visited in 1481 and bought a lace altar cloth, which he gave to the Milan Cathedral, where it’s still on display. Wandering the winding streets, you’ll find local women on almost every corner, carefully crafting delicate lace. You can also get a demonstration at the Lefkara Handicraft Centre, the Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmithing, and various workshops around town. There’s also a number of historic churches to admire, including the chapel of Archangelos Michail in Kato Lefkara, which has frescoes from the 12th and 15th centuries.