Limassol is the second largest city of Cyprus with a population of around 168,000; it is the most important tourist and commercial centre on the island. Since the crusades of the Middle Ages, Limassol has been known to traders for its wine and sugar cane During the crusades the leader of the third crusade, Richard the Lion-heart, freed noblewoman Berengaria of Navarre and married in Limassol, crowning her Queen of England.
One of the most major festivals on the island is the annual Wine Festival held in Limassol during September, where many wineries offer samples of their wines for ten days.
Famed for the hospitality of its people, archaeological sites, mediaeval castles, fun-loving reputation, first class hotels, designer shops and best nightlife on the island, Limassol is the perfect destination for holidaying.
One of the most magnificent archaeological sites on the island is the ancient kingdom of Kourion. The spectacular Greco-Roman Theatre, overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea was built in the 2nd century BC and enlarged in the 2nd century AD, now fully restored; it is used for musical and theatrical performances. The House of Eustolios consists of many rooms with fascinating 5th century AD mosaic floors and a complex of baths. The Early Christian basilica, dated to the 5th century, is thought to have been the Cathedral of Kourion, also to be seen is the Roman era stadium dated to the 2nd century AD.
Amathus is one of the biggest ancient kingdoms on the island. According to legend, Ariadne, the beautiful daughter of Minos, fled Crete with Theseus and went to Amathus where he abandoned her, while she was pregnant, to fight the Minotaur. There is historical evidence here from at least 3000 years ago. One of the excavator’s most significant finds was a temple built high on the cliff, where they worshiped Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love. It’s a beautiful place to visit, built on the coastal cliffs with an amazing view of the sea, visitors get to explore the area and see the beautiful archaeological treasures.
The Castle of Kolossi was initially built in 1210 and rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. The castle first belonged to King Hugh I who gave it to the Knights of St. John in order for their support in his fight against the Muslims. The knights controlled sixty villages on the island and being such good farmers and having a great business sense, all villages were strengthened. Kolossi became one of the Knights' most valuable overseas possessions when they produced the famous Commandaria wine, which was sought after all over Europe and brought the knights fame and fortune. According to tradition, the Kolossi Castle is where Richard the Lion-heart and Queen Berengaria spent their honeymoon.
Limassol Port is the major port of Cyprus, serving most of the island's seaborne cargo and passenger traffic. Recent improvements have been made to the port's infrastructure, more than doubling the loading and unloading capacity which means it handles two thirds of the total container traffic. Equivalently, over 90% of the country’s passenger traffic is served by the Limassol port, which adds up to a total annual capacity of 600.000 passengers. It’s included in 50 international cruise liners' Mediterranean routes, due to its strategic location that provides a perfect solution to your shipping needs.
If it is night life you are looking for, check out Yermasogea, the tourist area of Limassol, where both locals and tourists meet in the vibrant clubs and bars.
The old city centre though is the place to go to. A walk will lead the visitor to a vibrant community full of shop owners’ crafts people, artists of all disciplines and businessmen. Because the city is relatively untouched by the streams of tourism, it has been able to maintain the traditions of Cypriote life: meze restaurants, wine and beer cellars, places to sit outside and just watch people passing by. Nevertheless, traditional old boutiques and dark inns, where the Cypriots drink the famous Brandy sour drink are rapidly changing into modern shopping centres and restaurants. Limassol is known for its famous wine festivals held in August.
The beautiful Ladies Mile beach is located near the New Limassol Port and is only a 10-15 minute drive from Limassol Town centre. Here you can walk along the golden sandy beach, swim in the crystal calm waters or even have a go on the water sports facilities. The water here is shallow and very clear, so it’s safe for kids, and the sand runs for miles so if you’d prefer some peace and quiet you will be sure to find it here. Ladies Mile beach is one of the most popular windsurfing spots on the island due to its flat shallow water. Curium Beach
One of the most appealing beaches on the island, Curium is a beach of unspeakable beauty. The sea is rough and wild, whereas the beaches are gentle to have fun on. The ancient Roman Curium Amphitheatre, which has been rebuilt, is directly above the Curium beach, and you may see hand-gliders riding above the Curium cliffs. This beach is also a popular sailing spot but can get overcrowded with swimmers.
Pissouri Beach
This beach is located in the beautiful village of Pissouri. Its waters are clean, warm and safe to swim in with a beautiful sandy, shingle beach. During the summer there are a number of water sports facilities and there is also a small diving school for anyone who would like to learn scuba diving. Rarely overcrowded, except for Sundays when the locals have the time to go to the beach. There are also many tavernas along the beach which offer delicious Cypriot delicacies.
The Limassol district archaeological museum was founded in 1948 and originally housed in part of Limassol Castle. During the 1964 conflicts it was closed and transferred to the National Guard. The museum houses antiquities, such as fascinating statues and pottery finds from the Pre-Neolithic Period to the Late Roman Period.
Limassol Mediaeval Fort
Located near the old port, Limassol Mediaeval fort was built in the 14th century, on the land of an earlier Byzantine Castle and it houses the Cyprus Mediaeval museum. This is where it is believed that Richard the Lion-heart married Berengaria Navarre crowning her Queen of England in 1191.
Address: Limassol Castle, Richard and Berengaria Street; Telephone: (25) 305 419; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: C£1
A wonderful collection of Cyprus folk art from the 19th and early 20th century is exhibited in this beautifully preserved old house. The museum was first established in 1985 and due to its hundreds of hand made exhibits that protect and enhance the cultural heritage of Cyprus; it was awarded the Europa Nostra Award in 1989. Some of the museums most fascinating objects are its national costumes, wooden chests and tapestry.
Address: 253 Ayios Andreas Street; Telephone: (25) 362 303; Opening time: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1.30pm, and 3pm to 5.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (June to September 4pm to 6.30pm); Admission: C£0.50
The Castle of Kolossi was initially built in 1210 and rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. The castle first belonged to King Hugh I who gave it to the Knights of St. John in order for their support in his fight against the Muslims. The knights controlled sixty villages on the island and being such good farmers and having a great business sense, all villages were strengthened. Kolossi became one of the Knights most valuable overseas possessions when they produced the famous Commandaria wine, which was sought after all over Europe and brought the knights fame and fortune. According to tradition the Kolossi Castle is where Richard the Lion-heart and Queen Berengaria spent their honeymoon.
Kourion Museum
The Kourion Museum houses a collection of finds from nearby archaeological sites. In the main exhibition there are finds from Kaloriziki, including terra cotta lamps and figurines. There are many fascinating finds from Kourion, such as the marble head of Aphrodite from the 2nd century A.D. Many of the other exhibition rooms contain interesting collections from prehistoric sites in the area.
Kourion
One of the most magnificent archaeological sites on the island and an important ancient kingdom. The spectacular Greco-Roman Theatre, overlooking the blue Mediterranean sea was built in the 2nd century BC and enlarged in the 2nd century AD, now fully restored it is used for musical and theatrical performances. The House of Eustolios consists of many rooms with fascinating 5th century AD mosaic floors and a complex of baths. The Early Christian basilica dated to the 5th century is thought to have been the Cathedral of Kourion, also to be seen is the Roman era stadium dated to the 2nd century AD.
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Apollo Hylates, God of woodland and protector of the city of Kourion was worshiped at the Sanctuary from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, when it was destroyed by an earthquake and abandoned. But it is still a beautiful place to visit; you can see the temple and beautiful columns and excavations have also revealed a bath complex, a palestra (a place for practicing wrestling), the pilgrim halls and a holy precinct.
Amathus
Amathus is one of the biggest ancient kingdoms on the island. According to legend, Ariadne, the beautiful daughter of Minos, fled Crete with Theseus and went to Amathus where he abandoned her while she was pregnant to fight the Minotaur. There is historical evidence here from at least 3000 years ago. One of the excavator’s most significant finds was a temple built high on the cliff, where they worshiped Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. It’s a beautiful place to visit, built on the coastal cliffs with an amazing view of the sea, visitors get to explore the area and see the beautiful archaeological treasures
It's the biggest resort in Cyprus, so holidays in Limassol are definitely not lacking in things to do. For starters, the seven-mile stretch of seafront includes a choice of beaches, with most people heading for Dasoudi, about two-and-a-half miles east of the resort centre. Alternatively, if you're looking for a bit more seclusion, there's the cliff-backed Curium beach, about ten miles west of town.
Being the island's main seaside attraction, Limassol attracts all kinds of holidaymakers. So, late deals to Limassol are just as popular as all inclusive or self catering holidays. What's more, you'll get a good choice of accommodation into the bargain. There are all kinds of hotels to choose from, ranging from luxury 5* properties to great-value apartments, many of which are packed with great sports and leisure facilities.
Holidays in Limassol offer three other main attractions: history, shopping and nightlife. Sightseeing highlights include the 14th century castle where Richard the Lionheart got hitched to Queen Berengaria, and, of course, the famous Roman ruins at nearby Curium. The Old and New Towns have all kinds of shops, from souvenir bazaars to designer boutiques. And after the dark, the resort is buzzing, with an abundance of bars, restaurants and clubs. So, whether you're a sun worshipper, a water sports fan, a historian or a shop-a-holic, your Limassol holiday will be just what you dreamed it would be.
Limassol is the largest municipality in Cyprus and has experienced great development after the Turkish invasion in 1974. Since then it has become the biggest port in the Mediterranean for tourist and trade transit in the area.
Limassol is renowned for its long cultural tradition and boasts a wide spectrum of activities, museums and archaeological sites. A unique combination of ancient, Frankish, Byzantine and other modern influences are here to be enjoyed. Limassol provides a flashback into the history of Cyprus as it is steeped in Greek mythology and the conquests by Franks, Romans, Venetians, Ottomans, British and more recently part of it in 1974 by the Turks.
During the Crusades, Richard the Lion-Heart, leader of the Third Crusade landed in Limassol to free his betrothed, Berengaria of Navarre, who was held captive by the Byzantine sovereign. They married in the town and afterwards had the most extravagant party the island has ever seen.
Limassol is commonly recognised as the wine-making town of Cyprus. Historically Limassol was the centre of the wine trade and wine making in Cyprus and almost all exports of wine and spirits were made from the port of Limassol There are two well known vine areas for the production of the quality table wines, Krasohoria and Pitsilia.
Every house in the wine village of Limassol was also a small winery where the owner vine grower had all the apparatus for the making, storing, aging and transporting of the wine. The small vine-grower felt joy and pride when he could invite guests to his dining table and offer his own vintage which had been aging for more than a year.
For those interested in eco-tourism, there are plenty of other attractions. Mention should be made of its rich forest cover that includes oak, Cyprus, black pine and other types of vegetation. Wildlife comprises mainly some small mammals, such as the mouflon (deer-like goat), fox, hare, hedgehog and 61 species of birds, besides snakes and lizards.
The nearby Troodos Mountains are a tourists' delight and Cypriots describe them as the “Fruit basket of Europe”. Apples, apricots, grapes, strawberries, cherries, bananas, oranges, melons, pistachio and almonds are among the fruits that grow in the rich, fertile soil of the Troodos Mountains.
The nearby Troodos Mountains are a tourists' delight and Cypriots describe them as the “Fruit basket of Europe”. Apples, apricots, grapes, strawberries, cherries, bananas, oranges, melons, pistachio and almonds are among the fruits that grow in the rich, fertile soil of the Troodos Mountains.
The beaches of Limassol are a mixture of sand and pebbles with the favourite ones being Curium, Lady's Mile, Governors Beach and Dasoudi. In the old town of Limassol shopping opportunities are excellent.
All water sports are widely available, including scuba diving, water skiing, water sailing, windsurfing, para-sailing and boating.
There are numerous restaurants and tavernas to suit everyones taste including Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, typical Cypriot tavernas, pizzerias, kebab bars, but seafood lovers should head for the fish tavernas dotted all along the coast.
The small church dedicated to Virgin Mary was built at the end of the 11th century. It has some rare mural paintings of the 12th, 14th and 18th centuries, equivalent in beauty and significance to those of Asinou and Panagia tou Araka. Part of the monastic buildings has been renovated according to the original plan.