LIMASOL

The magnificent Theatre at Kourion, 2nd century B.C.

During the Crusades, Richard the Lion-Heart, leader of the Third Crusade, landed in Limassol (Lemesos), not incidentally to free a noblewoman held captive by the Byzantine sovereign.

Grape Harvest is a joyful but hardworking time

The noblewoman? His betrothed, Berengaria of Navarre. In Limassol they married, touching off the most extravagant party the island had ever seen.

Today, the tradition of celebration and hospitality continues in this vibrant seaside town. In February before Lent, masked revelers invade the street with music, parades, and dancing for Carnival. In September, the Wine Festival explodes in the town for a week. And every night people in restaurants, cafιs, and nightclubs celebrate events momentous and trivial, from a soccer win to a sudden romance to yet another stunning sunset at day’s end.

Explore Limassol Castle, which contains the Cyprus Medieval Museum, or the Folk Art Museum, which is housed in an old mansion.

The Lemesos coast features many luxurious hotels

Walk on ten miles of beautiful beaches, deservedly known as the Cypriot Riviera. Stroll in the sea promenade or visit the lush Municipal Gardens. On the coastal road to the east, just after the luxurious hotels, you will find Amathus, one of the ancient city kingdoms of Cyprus. See the ruins and take a dip near the site of an ancient port.

At 14 km west of Limassol lies Kolossi Castle, a medieval fortress whose walls contain not only an imposing tower and surrounding living quarters but also an ancient sugar factory.

The ancient site of Amathous

Just 19 km west of town, visit the Kourion archaeological site, an ancient city-kingdom, where you can take in a play or concert at the ancient Greco-Roman Theater, overlooking the blue Mediterranean. And, a bit further on, explore a treasure trove of Greek and Roman sites, such as the Sanctuary of Apollo.

 

 

 

 

Cyprus Medieval Museum Lemesos District Archaeological Museum Folk Art Museum	Kolossi Castle Kourion Museum Kourion Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates Amathous

 

	Cyprus Medieval Museum—Lemesos Medieval Fort
		Near the old port. Built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Byzantine castle. It was here that, according to tradition, Richard the Lion-Heart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. Sun: 10:00-13:00
	Lemesos District Archaeological Museum
		Vyronos 5, near the Public Gardens. Interesting collection of antiquities found in the Lemesos area from the Neolithic Age to the Roman period. Mon-Fri: 07:30-17:00; Sat: 09:00-17:00; Sun: 10:00-13:00
	Folk Art Museum
		Agiou Andreou 253. A beautiful collection of Cyprus Folk Art of the 19th and early 20th century is exhibited in a restored old house. Mon-Fri: 08:30-13:30; Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri: 15:00-17:30; (June-September) 16:00-18:30
	Kolossi Castle
		14 km west of Lemesos on the road to Pafos. A fine example of military architecture, originally constructed in the 13th century and subsequently rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. It served as the Grand Commandery of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In the 14th century it came under the domain of the Knights Templar. Daily 07:30-17:00
	Kourion Museum
		14 km west of Lemesos, 4 km before Kourion site, at Episkopi village. Collection of finds from nearby archaeological sites, exhibited in a beautiful old house. Mon-Fri: 07:30-14:30 Thurs: 15:00-18:00 (except July and August)
	Kourion
		19 km west of Lemesos on the road to Pafos. An important ancient city-kingdom and one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the island. The magnificent Greco-Roman Theatre was originally built in the 2nd century B.C. and is now used for musical and theatrical performances. The House of Eustolios, originally a private Roman villa, became a public recreation centre during the Early Christian period. The Early Christian basilica dates to the 5th century. The House of Achilles and the House of the Gladiators have beautiful mosaic floors, and the Nymphaeum is an elegant Roman structure. The Stadium is dated to the 2nd century A.D. Daily 07:30-17:00
	Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
		3 km west of Kourion, on the road to Pafos. Apollo Hylates, God of the Woodland, was the protector of the city of Kourion. The cult of Apollo was celebrated here from the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. Excavations have also revealed other structures of this important sanctuary such as the bath complex, the pilgrim halls, the palaistra and a holy precinct. Daily 07:30-17:00
	Amathous
		11 km east of Lemesos town centre, close to Amathus Hotel. One of the ancient city-kingdoms of Cyprus where, according to mythology, Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne after his battle with the Minotaur. The remains date from the Archaic, Roman and Christian periods. Mon-Sun: 07:30-17:00

 

Shopping in Cyprus is a fun experience because it mirrors the fact that the island is such a land of wonderful contrasts. You can find goods and products that are produced in the humblest village workshop, but you can also find the highest fashions in the larger, more sophisticated cities. You can buy everything from folk art souvenirs to locally-made cheeses, (including delicious Halloumi) and local wines and spirits.

The historic folk arts of Cyprus are the inspiration for many of the quality gift and souvenir items you can buy on the island. Among them laces named after the village of Lefkara, embroideries from Pafos — called “Pafitika” fabric — and fine pottery, woodwork, leather and metal work from many places; all deservedly famous.

Fabrics are used in a large number of different items and come in styles to fit every taste. Many have a story to tell.

Lefkaritica lace, for example, was made well before the Venetians came to prize it as an expression of quality folk art. But even though its roots are in history, Lefkaritica is a living tradition, with new designs in table cloths, curtains, placemats and dresser sets being added continually.

One way or another, if you are looking for items that can be worn, or carried, or placed on the table, the wall or the floor, Cyprus is the place for you.

The history of Cyprus also finds expression in its metal wear made from locally-mined materials. Well before the Bronze age, Cyprus was known for its copper pots, saucepans and planters, all of which make wonderful gifts for the practical-minded recipient, or can adorn your own kitchen at home.

Then there is gold and silver jewelry, much of it faithful reproductions of ancient designs, and often exceptional examples of Cyprus folk art skills.

Pottery making has also a long tradition on Cyprus. Look for the terra cotta ware with white decorations, copied from museum pieces. Beautifully decorated gourds are also available, and make surprisingly useful planters , vases, carafes and scoops.

Basket-weaving is a specialty of the village of Mesoyi, which produces brightly ribboned items that make perfect wall hangings. Footstools, wood carvings, pine dowry chests, small boxes and shelves, all are available — some decorated with, birds, flowers, rosettes, trees and religious symbols. The Cyprus Handicraft Service, is a government-run organization that specializes in craft work It has stores in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaka, and Pafos.

Shopping in Cyprus is a joy, whether you want that memorable rustic souvenir, want to take advantage of certain local bargains such as contact lenses, frames and other optical items, or whether you take the opportunity to look for that special something, a chic item of clothing from the one of the shops in the big cities, for example.

 

KRASOCHORIA (OMODOS, ARSOS, VASA AND KOILANI)

The area of Krasochoria, meaning wine villages, is found on the south side of the Troodos range. Traditions are kept alive in these villages, where wine making is still the main occupation. The area produces famous dry red wines. One of the wine producing villages is Omodos, once the property of Sir John De Brie, Prince of Galilee, with the Monastery of Holy Cross standing by the stone-paved square.

PISSOURI BAY / PISSOURI VILLAGE / CAPE ASPRO

The area of Pissouri, 30 km west of Limassol, is famous for its beach that won the Blue Flag award as one of the cleanest and safest beaches in Cyprus. Pissouri village is also well known for its vineyards.

 

 

Limassol is the arriving and departing port for travelers who are cruising to or from Greece, Israel and Egypt. Thus, visitor accommodations are suitably cosmopolitan. An earlier visitor was Richard the Lion Heart. And even if you do not stay in his Kolossi Castle, you will thoroughly enjoy the many varied of accommodations, from five star hotels to smaller hotel apartments, that the city has to offer.

AGROTOURISM

Another form of accommodation is to stay in an Agrotourism establishment. Agrotourism (village of rural tourism) offers lodging facilities in existing houses with strong traditional character or in very small hotels rigidly preserving the traditional character and the environment of the area. Moreover, the program aims at the preservation of the architectural character of the communities and the revitalization of traditional crafts and skills. Cyprus offers a wide range of attractions to the visitor seeking this alternative holiday, including opportunities for walking-hiking, bird-watching, nature studies such as botany and geology, farming holidays etc. Some of the villages that participated in the agrotourism program are:

Limassol Region: Arsos, Lofou, Pissouri

Troodos Region: Kyperounta

Pafos Region: Pano Arodes, Houlou, Akourdalia, Kathikas, Goudi

Larnaka Region: Tochni, Kalavassos, Kato Drys

CONFERENCES/INCENTIVES

Cyprus is a popular meetings and conventions destination. Over 30,000 participants are welcomed annually from over 600 international organizations. Many major hotels have conference facilities. And the Cyprus International Conference Centre, in Nicosia, was designed for large-scale meetings and conventions and is one of the largest and best-equipped venues in the eastern Mediterranean.

And you only have to spend one day in Cyprus to realize what a perfect place it is for incentive meetings.

 E-mail the Cyprus Tourist Organization at gocyprus@aol.com for a directory of accommodations.

Waterloo Inn, waterloo, Inn, restaurant, bar, pub, waterloo pub, waterloo bar, waterloo restaurant, waterloo cyprus, cyprus, pernera, protaras, Paralimni, pernera Cyprus, protaras cyprus, paralimni Cyprus, famagusta, apartments  rent, flats rent, flats let, apartments let, apartments,  flats, flats cyprus, apartments cyprus, flat, Cyprus restaurant, Cyprus bar, cyprus pub, flats for rent, flats to let, cyprus flats, cyprus rent, food, food menu, cocktails, cyprus cocktails, cocktail menu, recipe, entertainment, food menu, menu,  gallery, football, boxing, formula 1, summer, cyprus summer, holiday, Cyprus holiday, drinks, cyprus drinks, meals,cyprus meals,  meal, happy hour, happy hour cyprus,  breakfast, breakfast cyprus, lunch, lunch cyprus, dinner,dinner cyprus,  karaoke, karaoke cyprus, live music, live music cyprus, weather, weather cyprus, cyprus weather, currency converter, currency, converter, hotels, Cyprus hotels, hotel guide, news, news cyprus, ammoxostos, larnaca, limassol, nicosia, trodos, paphos, cyprus gallery, cyprus photos, cyprus pictures, cyprus map, map of cyprus, paralimni, ayia napa, derynia, liopetri, frenaros, sotira, shopping cyprus, cape greko, snorkling, diving, water ski,