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Limasol (Λεμεσός), Lemesos; is the second-largest city of Cyprus with a population of 176.900 (2005), the largest city in geographical size, 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 Limasol District.
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It is the biggest port in the Mediterranean transit trade. Limassol has since then become one of the most important tourism, trade and service-providing centres 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 available to the interested visitor. |
Limassol was built between two ancient cities, Amathus and Kourion, so during Byzantine rule it was then 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 UK. |
Limassol also attracts a wide range of tourists mostly during the summer season and are accommodated in its several luxurious hotels and apartments. Limassol is also home to the Cyprus University of Technology. |
The English King Richard the Lionheart destroyed Amathus in 1191, Lemesos (Limassol) was probably built after Amathus had been ruined. However, the town of Lemesos (Limassol) was inhabited since the ancient times. Graves found there date back to 2.000 B.C. and others date back to the 8th and 4th century BC. These few remains show that a small colonization must have existed which did not manage to develop and flourish. Ancient writers mention nothing about the foundation of the town. |
According to the Synod, (The Council of Chalcedon was an ecumenical council that took place from October 8th to November 1st 451 at Chalcedon. A city of Bithynia in Asia Minor, today part of the city of Istanbul on the Asian side of the Bosphorus and known as the district of Kadıköy) which took place in 451, the bishop of Theodossiani Sotir as well as the bishops of Amathus and Arsinoe were involved in the foundation. Theodossiani is regarded the same as Limassol and was known later as Neapolis. Bishop Leontios of Neapolis was an important church writer in the 7th century. The records of the 7th Synod (787) refer to it as the bishop’s see. The town was then known as Nemesos in the 10th century. |
| Richard the Lionheart |
The history of Limassol is really largely known by the events of 1191 A.D. that put an end to the Byzantine dominion of Cyprus. The king of England, Richard the Lionheart, was traveling to the Holy Land in 1191. His fiancée Berengaria and his sister loanna, (Queen of Sicily), were also traveling on a different ship. Because of a storm, the ship with the queens arrived in Lemesos (Limassol). Isaac Comnenus, the Byzantine governor of Cyprus, was heartless and cruel, and loathed the Latin’s. He invited the queens ashore, with the intention of holding them to ransom, but they wisely refused. So he refused them fresh water and they had to put out to sea again or yield to capture. When Richard arrived in Lemesos (Limassol) and met Isaac Comnenus, he asked him to contribute to the crusade for the liberation of the Holy Land. While at the beginning Isaac had accepted, he later on refused to give any help. |
Richard then chased him and defeated him. Cyprus was therefore now in the hands of the English. Richard celebrated his marriage with Berengaria who had received the crown as queen of England in Cyprus. So, the Byzantine dominion in Cyprus came to an end. Richard destroyed Amathus and the inhabitants were then transferred it into Limassol. |
| Prosperity |
A year later, in 1192 A.D. Cyprus was sold to the Templars, rich monks and soldiers whose aim was the protection of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The knights enforced high taxes, in order to put back the money that had been given for the purchase of Cyprus. This led to the revolt of the Cypriots. They demanded that they should get rid of the bond of the promise. Richard accepted their request and a new purchaser were found: Guy de Lusignan, a Frank, a Roman Catholic. Cyprus was then handed over to the Frankish Dynasty of the Lusignan kings of the medieval Cypriot Kingdom. |
For a period of about three centuries 1192-1489, Limassol enjoyed a remarkable prosperity. Its great number of Latin bishops characterised Cyprus. This lasted until the occupation of Cyprus by the Ottomans in 1570 A.D. Latin battalions, which established monasteries settled down there. |
The settling down of merchants in Cyprus and particularly in Limassol in the 13th century led to the financial welfare of its inhabitants. Its harbour as a centre of transportation and commerce, contributed greatly to the financial and cultural development. |
The medieval castle is one of the nine castles of Cyprus (the others are at Kolossi, Larnaka and Paphos now in the Republic of Cyprus controlled area, and all the others are on the North side of the island and It was built by the Byzantines around 1000 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 in1191 as she accompanied him to the Third Crusade, on his way to Holy Land. The Castle was used as a prison, between 1790-1940. |
| Limassol Today |
The medieval castle of Limassol now serves as a medieval museum. The collection that the museum provides covers the era of 400 to 1870 A.D. Visitors can see numerous exhibits: cannons, wood carvings of the 17th and 18th century, paintings and tombstones, statues, suits of armor, coins, terracotta, metal ware 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 jewelry, 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 visitors 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. The visitor can see deer, mouffons, 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. |
A series of public sculptures commissioned by the Limassol Municipality, can be found on the reclamation (now Twin Cities Park), spanning one mile of Seafront reclaimed land. |
Limassol is famous in Cyprus for its festivals like the Carnival and Wine Festival. The Limassol Carnival festival lasts for ten (10) days. 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 the Flower Festival (May), Festival of the Flood (June), Shakespearean nights and Ancient Greek Drama Festival. |
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The Sea Front |
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Limassol Church |
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The Medievil Castle |
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Carnaval Time |
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Limassol Sea Front at Night |
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