Millomeri Waterfalls in Platres near Troodos, Cyprus
A possible explanation of the name comes from greek words for Wet (Millos) and Meri (Place) meaning wet place, but i checked with many Cypriot colleagues of mine and none of them seem to recognise the word millos to have the meaning “wet”. Anyway, the road to Millimeri falls was opened up in the past few years and it has caught up as a tourist destination.
There are two ways to reach this waterfall
- Drive right up to it in a vehicle
- Trek/Walk a kilometre long train from the Platres Church.
The driving option: The exit to Millomeri falls appears 2 kms before the first exit to Platres on the way from Limassol to Troodos. The exit appears right in the middle of a sharp right turn (from Limassol to Troodos), so it is easy to miss it. So, watch out for the distances on the signboards, the exit should come approximately 2 kms before Platres when the road turns right on the main road. After a short distance into this exit, the road apparently deteriorates, but don’t worry, it is good enough for any car to go on. But the final stretch of a few hundred metres depends on the landslide conditions and i have seen situations where the road is just a few metres across at places because of fallen rocks. You keep on going until you come to a wide open area which seems to have a dead-end across a small bridge. This bridge finishes at a kiosk (which i have never seen open!). Park anywhere here and then right after the kiosk, you will see a long flight of stairs to the right. This will lead you to the base of the falls.
The path is very green particularly in winter/spring it is an enjoyable short trek. Don’t be surprised if the patch climbs a lot after the initial downward slope. You drop down to the valley then climb all the way up to the other side of the mountain and again all the way down to the waterfall. At one particular spot, a little bit of adventurous climbing could actually land you on top of the millomeri fall.
Look at the difference below. The first one was taken in winter and the second one in summer. But, one thing is sure, any time of the year, a visit to Millomeri waterfall is a good trip to make.
Maravilhoso|
Have just had a wonderful though drive-only trip around the waterfall, the Venetian bridges and the double bridge at Trimiklini, thanks to your wonderfully written and detailed blog!!
Have you or anyone else tried to go downstream of the fall? For how long does the chasm remain as narrow as just below the falls?
Sorry for commenting, but I am wondering why your friends did not know the word Millos (Μιλλός or Μηλλός) with the intonation on “O”. The “LL” is very “heavy” and it’s pronounced with your tongue almost out of your teeth. I’m not 100% sure about the roots of the word, but I think it is from Ancient Greek. “Millos” is a word used in Cypriot dialect. I have never hear a Greek from Greece using this word. I hear many Cypriots, especially in villages using that word. We also use the word “Μιλλο-βρεμένος” (millo-vremenos) where “vremenos” also means “wet”. We usually use it for something that is not completely dry.
And for the record (for your Cypriot friends not knowing the word, “millos” should not be confused with the word “milla” (μίλλα), where the intonation is on “I” and means “fat”.
dear DemHead, thanks for the info on Μιλλός; I grew up in Cyprus (Nicosia and Larnaca) and never ever heard it – perhaps its a word used in the Limassol area and the mountains above…