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Limassol – (Lemesos)

Limassol is the second biggest town of Cyprus and its biggest Municipality. It has experienced 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 available for the interested visitor. A unique combination of ancient, Frankish, Byzantine and other modern influences are observed.

During the Crusades, Richard the Lion-Heart, leader of the Third Crusade landed in Limassol to free his betrothed, Berengaria of Navarre, who was held captive by the Byzantine sovereign. They married in the town and afterwards had 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 revellers 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, cafes, and nightclubs celebrate events momentous and trivial, from a soccer win to a sudden romance to yet another stunning sunset at day's end.

Limassol now is commonly recognised as the wine-making town of Cyprus. In 1987 the International Office of the Vine and Wine made a suggestion to declare Limassol as the "City of Vine and Wine".

Historically Limassol was the centre of the wine trade and wine making in Cyprus. From the beginning almost all exports of wine and spirits were made from the port of Limassol. Also in there is the region of Commandaria, which is a de Facto wine with an appellation of origin. The method of making Commandaria is basically the same today as it used to be many centuries ago. Also in the Limassol district are the two well known vine areas for the production of the quality table wines which are Krasohoria and Pitsilia. Every house in the wine village of Limassol was also a small winery where owner and the vine grower had all the apparatus for the making, storage, aging and transportation of the wine to the places of consumption. The small vine-grower felt joy and pride when he could invite guests to his dining table and offer his own "zivania" which is an appetizer and then his own wine which had been aging for more than a year.

Limassol provides a flashback into the history of Cyprus as it is steeped in Greek mythology and the conquests by Franks, Romans, Venetians, Ottomans, British and more recently part of it in 1974 by the Turks.

For those interested in cultural and eco-tourism, there are plenty of other attractions. Mention should be made of its rich forest cover that includes oak, Cyprus, black pine and other types of vegetation.

Troodos Mountains.
The nearby Troodos Mountains are a tourists' delight. Cypriots would say, they may be described as the fruit basket of Europe. Apples, apricots, grapes, strawberries, cherries, bananas, oranges, melons, pistachio and almonds are among the other fresh and dried fruits that grow in the rich, fertile soil of the Troodos Mountains. You don't have to go to a supermarket to buy fruits. You can shop them right off the trees lining the mountainous route. The fauna comprises mainly some small mammals, such as the mouflon (deer-like goat), fox, hare, hedgehog and 61 species of birds, besides snakes and lizards.

Limassol is a bustling cosmopolitan resort with plenty to do by day and night. It is the island's largest seaside resort. The beaches are a mixture of sand and pebbles with the favourite ones being Curium, Lady's Mile, Governors Beach and Dasoudi. In the old town of Limassol shopping opportunities are excellent.

All water sports are widely available, including scuba diving, water skiing, water sailing, windsurfing, Para-sailing and boating.

There are numerous restaurants and tavernas to suit everyone’s taste including Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, typical Cypriot tavernas, pizzerias, kebab bars but seafood lovers should head for the fish tavernas dotted all along the coast.

The nightlife can be quiet or lively as there are plenty of discos, nightclubs and bars to choose from.