Kionia Picnic Site

If you are planning to visit Cyprus and are looking for an adventure in nature, then the Kionia Picnic Site is the perfect destination for you. Located on the highest mountain peak of the forest of Machairas in Nicosia, Cyprus, the Kionia Picnic Site is a beautiful and well-organized picnic area that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding pine forest and nearby villages. With a capacity to host up to 550 people, the Kionia Picnic Site is a popular destination for families, couples, and groups of friends who want to spend some time outdoors and enjoy a picnic. The area is equipped with cooking equipment for food preparation, and the tables and seats are organized on a steep slope, which offers isolation from other excursionists. This unique setup also provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape and creates a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for visitors. One of the highlights of the Kionia Picnic Site is the natural source of water, which has been transformed by the Department of Forests into a tap for the best service of the excursionists. This water is potable and always cold and refreshing, making it the perfect drink to quench your thirst after a long hike or picnic. The surrounding area is mostly covered by a thick pine forest, which creates a beautiful canopy interrupted by the leaves of the huge chestnut trees that give another color to the forest with their gold green leaves. The cypresses, rising as masts among the pines and the chestnut trees, dominate the lower part of the forest, while Latsia dominates the forest's ground floor. The area's natural beauty makes it an excellent destination for nature lovers and those who enjoy hiking and exploring the outdoors. To reach the Kionia Picnic Site, there are two wonderful journeys that you can take. The first one is from the entrance of the village of Skarinou, where you go uphill towards Lefkara and then carry on towards Vavatsinia. From there, you follow the right turn and carry on straight until you find the picnic area. This journey is mostly through a pine forest, and you can park and observe the east and south beaches and many villages in the area. The second journey is from Kapedes, which is a journey full of surprises and changes. Until you are only a kilometer away from the Monastery of Panagia Tou Machaira, you will have passed by the picnic area "Mantra tou Kampiou," descended to the Pedieos' riverbed, and seen the chapel of Agios Onoufrios. On your left, on the peak that dominates the Monastery, you will see a huge statue of the Golden Eagle. Until that point, the road is relatively easy, even though the turns are quite "tight" at its most. However, the real adventure begins after this point, as you will ascend a mountain with practically vertical slopes, where you will think that you are seeing Cyprus from a plane view on the turns. The road to the picnic area is challenging, but it offers some of the most stunning views in Cyprus. As you ascend the mountain made of igneous rocks of the doleric group, you will see and admire dozens of small sources that have each created their torrent, all of which make the sources that "give birth" to the greatest river of Cyprus, Pedieos. The journey to the Kionia Picnic Site may sound challenging, but it is undoubtedly worth the effort. It is one of the most beautiful destinations in Cyprus, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and a peaceful atmosphere that is perfect for picnicking or hiking. From the picnic area, the Path of observation of nature "KIONIA - PROFITIS ILIAS" begins, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the surrounding hiking trail.