The resort capital of the island of Cyprus does not need any special recommendations. Life here begins to boil and be in full swing, as soon as the May sun heats the sea and the golden sand of Limassol beaches. The swimming season lasts until the end of October, but the hardened ones dive boldly into the Mediterranean Sea even at the end of autumn. But the Cypriot tourist is not alive by the beach alone, and excursions around the island are very popular with overseas guests. The question of what to see in Limassol will be answered in unison by numerous travel agencies offering their clients trips to the most popular attractions of Cyprus - ancient ruins, old castles, modern water parks and other centers of cultural entertainment.
TOP 10 attractions of Limassol
Limassol Castle
As in any self-respecting city that appeared on the world map in ancient times, there is a medieval fort in Limassol, built to guard and protect its inhabitants from the invasions of enemy armies. Limassol Castle was built at the beginning of the XIV century on the site of a former Byzantine fortress. Some historians claim that the wedding of Richard the Lionheart and Berengaria of Navarre took place in the chapel of the fortress in 1191.
After 250 years, the castle was rebuilt by the Ottomans, introducing features characteristic of their own defensive architecture into the architecture of the citadel. They were the first to equip prison cells in the basements, anticipating the new fate of the fortification. Throughout the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, the Limassol Castle served as a prison for prisoners.
In 1950, the citadel was transferred to the Department of Antiquities, which reconstructed and restored the monument of medieval architecture and opened a district museum in it.
The exposition includes several rooms where medieval weapons and armor, coins, gold and bronze jewelry, ceramics, as well as carved tombstones from the 14th century stone, decorated with the coats of arms of knights buried under them and epitaphs, are displayed.
Kolossi Castle
10 km west of Limassol, you can look at another medieval castle, which looks more like a fortress. The honor of its construction belongs to the King of Cyprus, Hugo I de Lusignan, who ruled his state at the beginning of the XIII century. Several decades later, the fortress passed into the possession of the Knights Hospitallers, who belonged to the Order of St. John from Jerusalem. They were engaged not only in the Crusades, but also cultivated excellent grapes and became the progenitors of the famous wine of Cyprus, now called "Commandaria".
The citadel is built of yellow limestone and looks like a typical medieval defensive structure. Three floors of a 22-meter tower, square at the base, were used to observe the surroundings.
The best panorama of the surroundings opens from the observation deck on the roof of the Kolossi castle.
Keo Factory
Since we are talking about the famous wine of Cyprus, it is worth talking about the plant where the legendary "Commandaria" has been produced for over 75 years. Keo opened as a small family business, but a quarter of a century later became famous not only on the island, but even in overseas cities and towns.
When tasting Commandaria, remember its history:
- At the beginning of the 13th century, when the Knights Hospitallers began to produce their own wine, it was called "Nama".
- For the first time in the wine competition of the Old World "Commandaria" took part in 1213! After 150 years, the drink is mentioned in the lists of candidates for victory in the "Feast of the Five Kings" competition.
- The modern Commandaria is used for communion at services in Cypriot churches.
The grape variety from which the pearl of Cypriot winemaking is produced is called "Xynisteri". First, the berries are dried in the sun, and then the sweet juice is placed in amphorae and kept in Keo's cellars for several years. A bottle of real Commandaria cannot cost less than 25 euros.
You can taste the drink during an excursion to the winery. Keo's doors are thrown open for visitors every day at 10 o'clock. Besides Commandaria, the plant produces sherry and beer.
It is best to buy Cyprus wines for gifts to friends on Keo, where prices are slightly lower than in stores.
To get there: bus. N19 and 30.
Ruins of Amathus
A few kilometers from the center of Limassol, there are the ruins of the ancient Greek settlement of Amathus. It was not too large by the standards of Ancient Greece, but it was here, according to myths, that Ariadne handed the saving ball to Theseus, who killed the Minotaur. The inhabitants of the Greek island of Crete somewhat disagree with this, but the Cypriots are not too worried about it. Another legend says that it was in the grove on the site of the future Amathus that Theseus abandoned his beloved during childbirth, which characterizes him not too positively.
One way or another, it is definitely worth visiting the ruins of an ancient Greek polis near Limassol! Archaeologists have unearthed here a market square, the ruins of the acropolis, the city's water supply system, the remains of early Christian basilicas and traditional Greek baths. Aphrodite was worshiped on the territory of Amathus, and the territory of the temple, erected in honor of the goddess of love and beauty, has been carefully restored today. You will be able to see several columns and a stone sacrificial bowl.
The best time to visit the ruins of Amatius is before sunset, when photographs of the sun setting in the sea are especially picturesque.
Temple of Apollo Khilatsky
Another structure, as if descended from the pages of a history textbook of the Ancient World, is located 20 km from Limassol. The temple of the patron saint of animals and forests was built in the 1st century AD. on the site of an older building that existed here. Apollo of Hilates was especially revered in Cyprus, since, according to the ancient inhabitants of the island, the weather and the degree of soil fertility, and hence the harvest, depended on his location. The sanctuary served the residents of the nearby city of Kourion as a place of worship for their beloved deity. The remains of sacrificial lambs and other offerings to Apollo of Hilates found at the site are silent testimonies.
Judging by the remains of cult halls and pilgrims' camps discovered nearby, the latter aspired to the sanctuary and regularly prayed there to the god of fertility.
Ticket price: 2, 5 euros.
Monastery of Saint George Alamanou
The women's monastery near Limassol was founded in the 12th century by hermit monks. The monastery was named after one of the inhabitants who performed miracles and promoted the Christian faith. Since the monks came from German lands, the prefix "alamanu", which means "Germanic", appeared in the name of the monastery.
The Middle Ages brought oblivion and devastation to the monastery, and it was restored only at the end of the 19th century. After 100 years, the monastery became a female monastery. Today, two dozen novices live here, caring for the territory, painting icons and offering prayers to the sky.
On the territory of the monastery there is a source with holy water, which is considered to be healing. You can buy honey and jam, icons and books as souvenirs.
Church of St. Catherine
Located right on the city's waterfront, the Catholic Church was built at the end of the 19th century by an architect from Bologna. Its design clearly contains elements of baroque and eclecticism, and the interiors are painted with frescoes in the neo-Byzantine style.
The temple is very laconic and elegant at the same time and allows you to get an idea of the features of the European architectural style of the second half of the 19th century.
Municipal park
Limassol Central Park is a great place to walk and relax with the whole family. During the holiday season, it regularly hosts various events, concerts, performances and fairs.
The main event of each summer is the Wine Festival, which starts in the last week of August and lasts until mid-September. The god Dionysus becomes the patron saint of the festivities, and the winemaker Vrakas greets the guests of the festival.
The entrance to the park during the festival becomes paid. For 10 euros, visitors can taste the wines presented unlimitedly and take with them a bottle of any drink they like.
Playgrounds have been built for children in the park, and a basketball court and roller-skating tracks are equipped for teenagers.
To get there: bus stop “28 October Avenu”.
Archaeological Museum
Fans of ancient history will surely like the small but very informative exposition of the Archaeological Museum. Its three halls showcase a collection of finds that the Cypriot land has hidden for millennia. The stands show pottery and ancient Greek coins, copper, silver and gold jewelry made by antique jewelers, statues and epitaphs on tombstones, household items and ivory figurines.
Ticket price: 1, 7 euros.
Limassol Zoo
Going on vacation with children, parents are usually worried about whether they will be able to keep young travelers busy so that they will remember their vacation for a long time. In Limassol, your children will be able to see the inhabitants of the zoo, which has been operating in the resort capital of Cyprus since 1956. Residents of the city not only waited for its opening, but also contributed to this in every possible way, bringing their own exotic and not very living creatures to the new park.
During the partition of Cyprus, difficult times came, and the zoo was in dire need due to insufficient funding, but in the 90s of the last century it was completely restored and reconstructed. Today, more than 30 species of birds, numerous reptiles and mammals live in its spacious enclosures. Each enclosure is accompanied by cognitive information about the animals represented in it.
To get there: bus. 3, 11, 13, 25 to the stop. "City Garden of Limassol".
Ticket prices: 5 and 2 euros for adults and children, respectively.
