The Trodos Mountains are the biggest range of mountains on the island of Cyprus, Clearly visible on the map (or as you fly into Cyprus) they lie at the very heart of the island. Although there are several high peaks, the highest is Mount Olpympus at just under 2,000 metres (around 7,000 feet). Why not explore this region and get away from the noise and the heat of the resorts by hiring a car on Cyprus. You'll find that it has so much more to offer.

The Troodos stretch right across the western side of Cyprus. The region has be popular for a long time and there are many famous mountain resorts, monasteries and churches. Throughout the region there are countless small picturesque villages tucked into valleys, their slopes terraced with vineyards.

The biggest visible historical influence in the trodos was the Byzantines. Escaping the dangerous coastline, their developed a rich culture. There are nine Byzantine churches, the most famous of which include: Panayia tou Araka, Assinou, Panayia tou Araka, Ayios loannis Lampadistis amongst others. A drive through the Trados mountains in your hire car will also bring you to the most famous of all the byzantine churches, the Kykkos Monastery. So special are these sites, that they have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To explore this range you will need to hire a car on Cyprus as public transport can be patchy.

There are many small villages in the Trodos Mountains. Taking your hire car up into the mountains will bring you to villages like Platres. Located on the southern slopes of the Troodos, the name of Platres comes from the Greek word platía, which means flat area (it's the same for town square), on account of the many level fields in between the often steep terrain.

Platres has reinvented itself as one of the key hill resorts of Cyprus; and even thought the population is less than 300, this can rise to more than 1500 during the summer as tourists come from across Europe. Parking a hire car can at times be a problem in the some of the hill resorts of the Trodos during the summer. Be warned, you might have to do a little walking to your hotel if you plan to stay.

Ever since the British took control of the island of Cyprus in 1878, the village has been popular destination on account of its cooler climate. Traditonally this was an area rich with orchards growing cherries, peaches and other fruit. Vineyards too still exist. The hillresort is also famous for such odd things as developing the Brandy Sour cocktail, a drink which was first thrown together for King Farouk around 1939 at the Forest Park Hotel. The same hotel is also was also made famous by Daphne du Maurier who penned her famous novel, Rebecca here.

Other hill villages you can explore in your hire car whilst on Cyprus include Pachna (Pakhna, at an altitude of 750m (about 2500ft). Legend has it that the name is derived from the ancient Greek word pachni or white frost found on forest leaves after a chilly night. The village is famous for its wine, which has been grown here since ancient times./ The Mavro variety is especially famous, the chalky soil around Pachna lending the wine it's distinctive flavour or terroir

the Trodos village of Lania, too, is one of Cyprus' key wine producing villages.
According to legend, Lania was born out Lana, the daughter of the Greek god of wine and pleasure. Just as in Pachna, thee village is respected for the high quality of its viniculture. When the King Henry I of France lost his Champagne vineyards to disease, it was to Lania, on Cyprus that he looked to find healthy plants to replant the region of champagne. The centre piece of the village or rather the entrance to Lania is the old fountain which used to serve the whole village with fresh cool Trodos water.

Wherever you go in the trodos in your hire car don't forget to get out and have a look around. Better still why not take a few days out to really explore what these fabulous mountains have to offer. A hire car on Cyprius will open the door to new experiences.