LIMASSOL
Limassol is the second-largest city of Cyprus, with a
population of 161,000 (2001 census), and the biggest
municipality of the island. The city is located on
Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is
the capital of Limassol District
It underwent great development after the Turkish
invasion in 1974, becoming the biggest port in the
Mediterranean transit trade. Limassol has since then
become one of the most important tourism, trade and
service-providing centre in the area. Limassol is
renowned for its long cultural tradition. A wide
spectrum of activities and a great number of museums and
archaeological sites are proposed to the interested
visitor.
Limassol was built between two ancient cities, Amathus
and Kourion, so during Byzantine rule it was known as
Neapolis (new town). Limassol's tourist strip now runs
east along the coast as far as Amathus. To the west of
the city is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area of the
United Kingdom.
Limassol also attracts a wide range of tourists mostly
during the summer season to be accommodated in its
several luxurious hotels and apartments.
The medieval castle is one of the nine castles of Cyprus
(the others are at Kolossi, Larnaca and Paphos now in
the Republic of Cyprus controlled area, and Famagusta,
Kantara, Buffavento, St. Hilarion and Kyrenia now within
the de facto but internationally unrecognised state of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). It was built
by the Byzantines around l000 AD. Around the same period,
a chapel was also built there. Richard the Lionheart is
supposed to have married his fiancée Princess Berengaria
of Navarre on this site after her ship was grounded
nearby in 1191 as she accompanied him to the Third
Crusade, on his way to Holy Land. The Castle was used as
a prison, between 1790-1940
The medieval castle of Limassol now serves as a medieval
museum. The collection that the museum provides covers
the era of 400 - 1870 A.D. A visitor can see numerous
exhibits: cannons, wood carvings of the 17th and 18th
century, paintings and tombstones, statues, suits of
armor, coins, terracotta, metalware and pottery, glass
and marble articrafts.
The Archaeological Museum provides a very interesting
collection of antiquities found in the district of
Limassol, dating from the Neolithic Age to the Roman
period. Some of the archaeological discoveries are:
Stone axes of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic period,
potteries and objects of the ancient cities of Curium
and Amathus, as well as Roman terra cottas, gold
jewelery, coins, sculptures, columns, vases, earrings,
rings, necklaces, marble statues etc.
The Folk Art Museum is beautifully preserved old house
which provides a very interesting collection of Cypriot
Folk Art of the last two centuries. Some of the most
fascinating objects of the collection are: national
costumes, tapestry, embroidery, wooden chests,
waistcoats, men’s jackets, necklaces, a variety of light
clothes, town costumes, country tools etc. The museum
was established in 1985. More than 500 exhibits are
housed in its six rooms. The museum was awarded the
Europa Nostra prize, in 1989. Here, the visitor can
study Cypriot culture through the hand-made exhibits.
Public Garden is situated on the coastal road. It
provides a great variety of vegetation: eucalyptus trees,
pine trees and cypresses. In this beautiful environment
the citizens of Limassol and many visitors can walk
around and enjoy themselves. Inside the garden, there is
a small zoo. There, the visitor can see deer, moufflons,
ostriches, pheasants, tigers, lions, monkeys, vultures,
pelicans and other animals and different kinds of
birds.Not far from the zoo there is the small natural
history museum and the garden theatre that is
reconstructed to host famous international groups.
Limassol is famous in Cyprus for its festivals, like the
Carnival and Wine Festival.
The Limassol Carnival festival lasts for ten (10) days,
with jolly and amusing masquerading. This custom is very
old, going back to pagan rituals. With the passage of
time it has acquired a different, purely entertaining
character, with a large, popular following. The festival
starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival,
followed by a fancy-dress competition for children.
During the Carnival parade in the main streets, large
crowds from all over the island gather to watch the
floats with the serenade and other masqueraded groups.
Many fancy-dress balls and parties take place at many
hotels every night.
During the first quarter of September, the great Wine
Festival of Cyprus takes place in the Municipal Garden
of Lemesos (Limassol), every evening between 8.00 hrs -
23.00 hrs. During the festival the visitor has the
chance to taste some of the best Cyprus wines, which are
offered free of charge. On some evenings, various groups
from Cyprus and abroad perform folk dancing and there
are also choirs and others.
Other festivals are Flower Festival (May), Festival of
the Flood (June), Shakespearean nights and Ancient Greek
Drama Festival. |