Asinou - Panagia Phorbiotissa, Byzantine church in Nikitari, Cyprus
Panagia Phorbiotissa is a Byzantine church with stone walls displaying frescoes created across different time periods. The building contains original paintings from the 11th century, followed by later additions from the 14th century that enriched its interior decoration.
The church was founded at the end of the 11th century when a magistrate established it, and it later developed into a monastic community. It served as a monastery for several centuries before changing its role in the late 18th century.
The interior displays religious scenes in frescoes that show different phases of Byzantine artistic expression. These works let visitors see how faith and daily spiritual practice shaped the visual choices made by medieval painters.
Visitors should know that the interior is relatively dim, and bringing a light source can help see the frescoes more clearly. The church sits on a mountain road and requires a short walk from the nearest parking area.
The narthex was added in the second half of the 12th century and displays architectural elements inspired by Constantinople. This spatial addition includes donor portraits that record who funded this expansion of the original structure.
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