Limassol – Our City

Limassol – Our City

Cyprus’ answer to a metropolitan city is of course, Limassol. Limassol or Lemesos is situated in between two of the key historic city-kingdoms, which is Amathus in the east and Kourion in the west.Amathus was destroyed by King Richard the Lionheart and through this downfall, the formation of Limassol was born.

 

History:

Britain occupied Cyprus in 1878 and so, began developing Cyprus in various areas. This saw the construction of docks for ship loading. Following this, employment boomed in the industrial and port sectors, which still remain at the core of the city’s job market.

 

Not to be missed:

The recently-built Limassol Marina has been named as of one of the most attractive projects in Europe. It has radically shaped Limassol’s image and become a landmark for the city. It also stands to be one of the most expensive marinas in both the Mediterranean and the Middle East, dubbed as the “Monte Carlo of Cyprus”.

If you are more inclined for a beach holiday, Limassol hosts some of the best beaches including the Lady’s Mile beach and Governor’s beach which is in the middle of Limassol and Larnaca.

Another favourite is the beaches at Pissouri which can be found mid-way between Limassol and Paphos. The beaches are quiet and unspoilt with breath-taking views of the glistening waters of the Mediterranean. Pissouri is a small village worth visiting and is also home to the renowned deluxe hotel, Columbia Beach Resort, mentioned in the OK! Magazine. The 5 star hotel has recently undergone a revamp and is open to guests only.

One of the most significant historical attractions is Kolossi Castle, located in Kolossi village, 14km west of Limassol. The land surrounding the castle plays a very important role in the cultivation of sugarcane and vineyards, where the well-known Cypriot wine, namely, ‘Commandaria’. The name, Commandaria originates from the headquarters of Kolossi itself – the ‘Grand Commandarie’.

In September of every year, Limassol holds the awaited Wine Festival which takes place in the Municipal Garden of Limassol. The modern day wine festival is similar to the celebrations in ancient times dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and of course Dionysus, the god of wine. The festival first emerged in 1961 with offering the many tourists various Cypriot wines along with local cuisine, music and folk dancing. The entry ticket to the festival is usually not much; but it does include a bottle of Cypriot wine.

 

Fun fact:

It is encouraged for visitors to join in the stomping of the grapes in a large barrel at the annual wine festival.

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