Pentakomo, Cyprus: village guide, convent and white-rock coast
About the place
Checked: 25 October 2026.
Pentakomo at a glance: a village east of Limassol
Pentakomo (Greek: Πεντάκωμο) is a village in the Limassol district, east of the city of Limassol. At the 2021 census it had 765 residents. Pentakomo is best known for the convent of Agios Georgios Alamanos (St George Alamanos), which stands to the south of the village, and for its stretch of coastline with white chalk cliffs.
According to Visit Cyprus, the convent is about 20 km east of Limassol, on the road towards Nicosia, and Kalymnos beach by Pentakomo is about 10 km east of Limassol’s main hotel district. According to the Limassol Tourism Board, the beach by the convent is reached via the exit signposted for Pentakomo.
The village itself lies inland, while the convent and the beaches are closer to the sea and are reached by different roads. So before you set off, decide what interests you most – the convent, the coast or a stroll through the village – and mark these places separately on the map.
The name and history of Pentakomo
In Greek the name Pentakomo reads as ‘five settlements’: πέντε, ‘five’, and κώμη, ‘settlement’. According to a local explanation, the village grew out of several small settlements, but we have found no documentary evidence for this, so we give it only as local tradition.
The oldest known chapter in local history is linked to the convent of Agios Georgios Alamanos. According to Visit Cyprus, it was founded as a monastery in the 12th century and today functions as a convent. There are various traditions about the origin of the epithet ‘Alamanos’, but we have found no reliable sources for them and so do not retell them.
Old stone houses also survive in the area. According to the Limassol Tourism Board, houses built in 1890 between Parekklisia and Pentakomo have been restored as agrotourism accommodation. They give an idea of the traditional rural architecture of this part of the Limassol district.
What to see: the Agios Georgios Alamanos convent and the coast
The convent of Agios Georgios Alamanos is Pentakomo’s main attraction. According to Visit Cyprus, besides holding services, the nuns paint icons, grow flowers and herbs and keep bees. The convent stands on high ground with views over the pale rocky coastline.
Pentakomo’s coastline includes the well-known Governor’s Beach with its white chalk rocks, and Visit Cyprus counts the sandy Kalymnos beach with its campsite as part of it; our site has a separate guide to Governor’s Beach.
Near the convent is the small Agios Georgios Alamanou beach, named after it. According to the Limassol Tourism Board, it has sandy and grassy areas, and the rocks along the shore are suitable for snorkelling. If you want to see both the convent and the sea, start with the convent while it is still cool.
Monastic crafts and festivals
The convent is a living part of local tradition. Honey, icons and other items made by the nuns can sometimes be bought there. Ask the sisters on site exactly what is available and when, rather than relying on old online reviews.
The convent is dedicated to St George, whose feast in the Orthodox calendar is on 23 April. If that date falls on or before Easter, the feast moves to the Monday after Easter. On these days the convent receives many pilgrims, so check service times with the convent in advance.
If you happen to be in Pentakomo on the day of a local church festival, check the programme with the community council or the parish. The format of village festivals varies from year to year, so a schedule obtained from the organisers in advance is more reliable than old online reviews.
Walks and the coast near Pentakomo
Visit Cyprus describes a 15 km cycling route from Ancient Amathous to the coast near Pentakomo. It follows the old Limassol–Nicosia road and dirt tracks, drops into the dry riverbed by the Agios Georgios Alamanos convent and ends at the sea.
The route is rated as difficult: the surface is uneven, and Visit Cyprus recommends a good 24-speed mountain bike with a suspension fork. Before setting off, check whether rain has changed the condition of the dirt sections.
On foot it is easy to walk from the convent to the sea and along the shore, but in summer there is almost no shade on the open coast. Take water, a hat and shoes suitable for rocks: the chalk rocks can be slippery and their edges unstable.
Getting to Pentakomo and planning your visit
Pentakomo lies to the east of Limassol, not far from the motorway towards Larnaca and Nicosia. The easiest way to get there is by car: the exit signposted ‘Pentakomo’ leads both to the village and to the coast. Before setting off, check the route in your navigation app, as different roads lead to the convent, the beaches and the village.
If you plan to travel by bus, check with the Limassol district public transport operator which services currently run to Pentakomo and the coast. Rural and beach routes often depend on the season, so find out the time of the return bus in advance.
The convent, the beach and the village can be seen in half a day. In the warm season it is best to arrive in the morning, so that you visit the convent before the heat and still have time for the sea. If you want to stay at the campsite by Kalymnos beach, check its opening season and terms with the campsite operator in advance.
What to check before visiting Pentakomo
Agios Georgios Alamanos is a working convent. Visit during the day, do not disturb services and ask the nuns where you may go. Clothing must cover the shoulders and knees.
Photographs of the nuns and of the convent’s interiors may be taken only with permission. Speak quietly and do not enter parts of the convent closed to visitors. If you want to light a candle or leave a donation, ask how this is done there.
On the coast, check whether a lifeguard service is operating this season, and keep away from the edge of the chalk cliffs. In summer do not light fires outside designated areas: in the dry season Cyprus has a high risk of forest and field fires.
Continue planning
Official sources
- 2021 Population Census — Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT)
- Agios Georgios Alamanos Convent — Visit Cyprus
- Kalymnos Beach by Pentakomo — Visit Cyprus
- Limassol beaches — Limassol Tourism Board
View of Pentakomo · Photo: Xaris333 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · converted to WebP and resized.
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