Cyprus · CY

Amiandos Asbestos Mine

High in the Troodos Mountains at roughly 1,400 metres, the Amiantos Asbestos Mine is one of Cyprus's most extraordinary destinations for the curious traveller. For eighty-four years this was one of the Mediterranean's largest open-pit asbestos workings, carving a vast scar into the mountainside. Today, the abandoned mine is transforming into a living showcase of industrial heritage, ecological restoration, and geological wonder—anchored by the Troodos UNESCO Global Geopark Visitor Centre and the A.G. Leventis Botanical Garden. The site offers a uniquely layered visit: a chance to stand before the enormous open-pit crater, explore interactive exhibits on the world's most complete oceanic crust, walk through gardens reclaiming toxic tailings, and learn about the mining community that once thrived here—all set against sweeping views down to the Mediterranean.