Sightseeing in Limassol - what to see. Complete travel guide

Limassol is a city located on the south coast of Cyprus. This is one of the biggest cities of the island with only Nicosia bigger. The location of the city and its cultural heritage traditionally attract many visitors from all over the world. In Limassol also live several thousands of Russian tourists. The history of the city tells that first settlements on the territory of the modern Limassol appeared yet before Christ. At that time the town was located between the two ancient towns - Amathus and Curium. Limassol was built on the ruins of the old city Lemesos.

Limassol has become widely known during the Crusades, when the English king Richard the Lion Heart married in the famous citadel to his bride Berengaria of Navarre. During the period when Limassol had been conquered by the British, a fort was built on the coast of the city. At that time in this region started developing wine-growing. Since that time Limassol has been chosen as the location of wine festivals devoted to Dionysius – the god of wine. The celebration lasts several days and is traditionally rich in performances, songs, dancing, plays and, of course, wine drinking. All visitors of the festival are offered to try this amazing drink produced by best manufacturers of the island.

Limassol is famous not only by its clean sand beaches that are equipped with everything for rest. The sights of this city include historical and architectural sites, such as Kolossi Castle that once has been the residence of the government and now is a popular tourist location, or Archeological Museums that exhibits a large collection of items found in Limassol suburbs. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The guests of Limassol will have an opportunity to see the ruins of the ancient city of Kourion, which flourished in the 12th century BC. More than 2.5 thousand years ago, this big city fell into decay. Now, researchers reconstruct the remaining fragments of its numerous buildings. A few years ago, a large archaeological park was built here, in which excursions for tourists are carried out every day.

The best way to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of locals is to visit the village of Omodos. This settlement is one of the oldest in the world. It has existed since the Byzantine Empire. For more than a thousand years, this village has been famous for producing a delightful wine that locals make according to secret recipes. Guests of this village can stroll through the picturesque old streets and admire the beautiful houses, buy wine in local shops, and visit the museum, which stores a rich collection of Byzantine icons.

A very interesting sightseeing facility is the Kolossi Castle. It was built during the reign of King Hugo I. At the end of the 13th century, this castle was occupied by the Knights of the Order of St. John. In the 14th century, it was held for a long time by the Templars. Now this castle from the early Middle Ages, looks as unassailable as it was hundreds of years ago. The height of its tower reaches 22 meters, and the thickness of the walls in some places of construction is 2.5 meters.

The Cathedral of Agia Napa occupies a special place among the religious attractions of Limassol. It was built in 1903 on the site of a ruined old church. The cathedral is an amazing combination of Byzantine and classical Greek architectural styles. Many unique religious artifacts are hidden within the walls of the cathedral, among them the image of the Mother of God. Incredible legends go about the miraculous power of this image.

All cats’ lovers should definitely visit the Church of St. Nikolas, located in the immediate vicinity of the city. In the 4th century, there were a lot of poisonous snakes on the island. To exterminate them, about a thousand cats were brought to the island. They have successfully coped with their task and to this day remain one of the most revered animals for locals. Now in the ancient monastery, there are several dozen cats that are under the care of nuns.