Buggy Nature Trail
The perfect way to explore…
The battery-operated ecological buggies provide a unique mode of transport for exploring the Retreat, its different points of interest and the natural beauty of the area.....
The Santa Marina Retreat incorporates the largest private stud farm and
racing stables in Cyprus – with race horses that regularly compete at the
Nicosia race course and many have the prefix Elias to their name. There
are many mares and their foals to watch at close range too as they feed or play in the paddocks.
There is the chance to rest awhile and feed our beautiful Japanese KoiCarp fish at the Proteas Fish Feeding Point by Lake Mangelini (which is a natural lake as the area was once a copper mine) and to visit the pretty little chapel of Santa Marina which is over 500 years old and was built by the Venetians. The chapel commands a spectacular view over the countryside and inside, visitors can learn about some of the traditions of the Greek Orthodox church..
Points of interest include:
· The Santa Marina Stud Farm which is one of the largest on the island with 250+ horses. Enjoy driving past the foals, the mares and the riding and racing horses - which include Cypriot and Greek Champion Show Jumpers.
· The work of the stables which includes the horses being groomed and trained for races and in the summer, the chance to see the horses enjoying a well-earned swim.
· The chapel of Santa Marina is a national monument over 500 years old that has recently been renovated and offers panoramic views of our training racetrack and natural lake.
· Our natural lake, Lake Manghelini, is full of beautiful Koi Carp that you can watch or feed and ‘Elias’ our sizeable stripe- necked terrapin.
· The marked nature trails that point out the beautiful natural flora and fauna of the Cypriot countryside.
The Horse Visitor's Centre is interesting to visit with plenty of
information about the history of the horse in ....Cyprus, about the development of horse racing as a sport in Nicosia and why a horseshoe is considered lucky...
For bookings or enquiries please telephone either 99-535000 or 99-545454