- Limassol parks and gardens
- Attractions of the resort
- Religious buildings
- Limassol for children
- Note to shopaholics
- Delicious points on the map
- Limassol festivals
Limassol resort in Cyprus enjoys a well-deserved fame as the center of the island's beach life. It is always full of life - day and night, and in summer, and even on New Year's holidays. Tourists prefer Limassol for its cheerful disposition and rich selection of hotels, restaurants, entertainment and excursion programs. When asked where to go in Limassol, guests of the resort instantly find the answer. It is enough just to identify the circle of your interests to the employees of the local travel agency, the porter in the hotel or the waiter in the restaurant. Talkative and friendly Cypriots will gladly recommend the best places to tourists and show the most interesting points on the map of the city and its environs.
Limassol parks and gardens
The municipal park offers guests of Limassol to take a break from the heat of the beach and enjoy a vacation under the shade of perennial pines. It is located in the very center of the resort. There are flowerbeds with roses in the park, swings, slides and sandpits are installed on the playgrounds, and concerts of local and visiting pop stars are often held on the stage of the open theater. At the end of August and the first week of September, a wine festival is held in Limassol City Park. Not a single tourist misses the opportunity to go to the holiday, especially since the festival provides an opportunity to taste local wines of Cyprus for a modest fee.
In the park called Friends of the Cypriot Donkeys, visitors get to know one of the living symbols of the island. Donkeys have long been highly respected animals in Cyprus. They did a lot of hard work on farms, but with the advent of technology, most of the eared four-legged animals were left to their own devices. The homeless donkeys have been gathered in the park, where they can receive food, veterinary care and a shelter. There are picnic areas in the park, and donkeys can be fed and mated with. The project has resonated around the world, and now thousands of people are helping the homeless donkeys of Cyprus.
Attractions of the resort
Limassol has a rich past. The city was founded at least four thousand years ago, and therefore both at the resort and in the surrounding area, there is something to see for a person interested in the history of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages:
- The ruins of Amathus remain from the ancient city, the first inhabitants of which settled in these parts in the 11th century. BC NS. The city was built on a cliff on the banks of a natural harbor and flourished in its early stages. The inhabitants of Amathus traded in grain, copper and sheep's wool, and the temple, built in honor of Aphrodite, became the recognized sanctuary of the ancient Greek goddess in Cyprus. During the tour, you will see the colonnade, the ruins of the fortress walls and the remains of the acropolis. All relics found are placed in the Cypriot history museums.
- The Limassol castle is much younger, but its walls have seen a lot in their lifetime. The castle hosted the wedding of Richard the Lionheart, and then the fort was besieged by the Genoese, Mamluks and the British. Today, the castle has a museum exposition, which displays ancient tools, ceramics, artifacts from different eras and medieval weapons.
- The Kolossi castle was the headquarters of the Order of the Hospitallers. Members of the order were engaged in viticulture and winemaking, grown citruses and other agricultural crops. It was the Hospitallers who came up with the recipe for the world famous Cypriot wine Commandaria, now called the national treasure of the state.
The ruins of the ancient city of Kourion with a sanctuary in honor of Apollo of Hilates and an amphitheater, where theater festivals take place in summer, are also of considerable interest to history buffs.
Religious buildings
Whether you are interested in the history of religion or on pilgrimage tours, the city's temples will catch your eye in Limassol.
The cathedral was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of an ancient Byzantine church. It is called Agia Napa and its design was created in accordance with Greek and Byzantine architectural traditions.
The Convent of St. George Alamanou was founded near Limassol in the 12th century. At first, the monastery was for men and was named after one of the hermit monks, whose cell was located nearby. The monk was a native of Palestine and became famous as a miracle worker and ascetic.
The Church of Panagia Yamatika in the village of Arakapas, a few kilometers from Limassol, is a place where all fans of fresco painting should go. The murals preserved on the walls of the temple date from the 16th century, and the roof of the church is made of wood. The image of the Mother of God from the temple in the village of Arakapas is revered as miraculous.
Limassol for children
If you flew on vacation to Limassol with the whole family, be sure to check out the list of interesting places and amusement parks for the younger generation.
The first item on the list of objects where you should go with children, in Limassol, is usually the Fasuri water park. Decorated in an exotic Polynesian style, the park is located a few minutes from the city center along the highway towards Paphos. The largest water park in Cyprus invites children to have fun on three dozen attractions, while their parents can enjoy a relaxing massage or sports massage, choose gifts for friends in a gift shop and enjoy a variety of beauty programs at the spa. The waterslides and attractions at Fasouri are built with the expectations and interest of visitors of all ages in mind. The water park opens in late April and is open until late autumn.
The Russian community in Cyprus offers to visit the family center "Wheel" in Limassol. An interactive museum has been opened on the territory of the center, performances for toddlers and adolescents are staged on the stage, and young tourists will be taught to draw, sculpt and play the most popular Russian folk games during developmental classes. In the "Wheel" there is an opportunity to celebrate a children's birthday or other holiday.
Another useful address for a family walk is the central park of the resort. A small petting zoo on its territory cannot boast of a large amount of exoticism, but communication with cute inhabitants can brighten up the monotony of a beach holiday for a kid.
Note to shopaholics
A paradise for a shopaholic Limassol can be called a stretch, but there are quite a few places in the resort where to go for souvenirs or gifts for relatives.
The N30 bus is your compass in Limassol's turbulent trading river. The Debenhams Olympia stop on its route is the location of the British department store Debenhams, where you can find everything from natural cosmetics and olive oil to shoes and electronics. Jambo has a wide range of baby products, and as you walk out on Makarios III Avenue, you will find many boutiques with famous names on the signs. At the last stop of the aforementioned bus is the largest outlet in Cyprus, My Mall, where, in addition to 200 shops, you will find cafes, a bowling alley, an amusement park and even an ice rink.
Excellent opportunities to save money open up for tourists who find themselves in Cyprus in January and July, when sales begin in shopping centers.
Delicious points on the map
According to the beach goers, the best place to go for lunch or dinner is in the waterfront area. Limassol Marina, which opened in 2014, houses several excellent restaurants with a varied menu and decent service:
- The Pyxida Tavern is the perfect place to sample seafood dishes, including the legendary fish meze. The most popular Cypriot dish includes two dozen types of fish snacks. You can always supplement the order with a soup of five types of fish and a salad with crab meat. Keep in mind that the serving size in the tavern allows you to get enough of one salad for two.
- The Crystal Marina Lounge was opened in the Marina of Limassol as part of the project of the Breeze group of companies. The main feature of the company's restaurants is a high modern style, and therefore those who love exquisite cuisine and high-class service should go to the Crystal Marina Lounge. A bonus is the panoramic views of the Marina and the ultra-modern interior.
- The best Mediterranean restaurant in Limassol is called Souxou Mouxou Mantalakia. On the menu you will find dishes from tuna, seaweed, crabs, olives, eggplants and everything that the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region are used to cooking and eating.
While vacationing in Limassol, pay attention to family taverns with Greek cuisine. As a rule, it is in them that you can plunge into an authentic home atmosphere, meet hospitable hosts and get quality food at quite affordable prices.
Limassol festivals
Resting in Limassol, you can become a guest and even a participant in the bright holidays that take place annually during the holiday season. In addition to the wine festival in the city park, the Cypriot-Russian Festival is popular with compatriots. Its program not only includes performances by pop stars of both countries, but also includes various contests, entertaining quizzes and competitions.
Once on the island in winter, you can go to the carnival. In Limassol, it includes costumed processions with the participation of evil spirits, dance competitions and tasting of local dishes that are prepared in street cafes.
