Successor to two city kingdoms and host to a royal wedding in the middle ages, contemporary Limassol stretches along the south coast. Proud of the spontaneous hospitality of its people, its archaeological sites, its mediaeval castled and its merry Carnival and Wine festivals. Limassol is the island’s most important tourist and wine industry centre. Hotels, restaurants, and night spots abound along the beach whilest close by lie the pine-clad southern slopes of Troodos with the picturesque wine producing villages, the idyllic mountain resorts and the picturesque Pitsylia are.

Places of interest

Lemesos Mediaeval Fort- Cyprus Mediaeval Museum
Built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Byzantine castle it houses the Cyprus Mediaeval Museum. It was here that according to tradition, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navvare and crowned her Queen of England in 1191.

Lemesos Archaeological Museum
Interesting collection of antiquities found in the Lemesos area from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Period.

Municipal Folk Art Museum
A beautiful collection of Cyprus Folk Art of the 19th and early 20th century is exhibited in a restored old house.

Lemesos Municipal Art Gallery
The art gallery houses a representative collection of paintings of well known contemporary Cypriot artists.

Lemesos Area

Kolossi Castle
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.After the fall of Acre in 1291, it served as the Grand Commandery of the Kinght of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. In the 14th century it came for a few years under the domain of the Knights Templar. Nearby are the ruins of a sugar mill dating back to the 14th century.

Kourion Museum
Collection of finds from the nearby archaeological sites, exhibited in a beautiful old house.

Kourion
An important ancient city kingdom, and one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the island where excavations still bring new treasures to light. The magnificent Graeco-Roman Theatre was originally built in the 2nd century BC and is now fully restored and used for musical and theatrical performances. The house of Eustolios, originally a private Roman villa, became a public recreation center during the Early Christian period. It consists of a complex of baths and a number of rooms with beautiful 5th century mosaic floors. The early Christian Basilica dated to the 5th century, was probably the cathedral of Kourion with a baptistery attached to the notrth face.. The house of Achilles and the House of Gladiators have beautiful mosaic floors. The Nymhaeum, dedicated to water Nymphs, is an elegant Roman structure. The stadium lies 1 km to the west n the right side of the road to pafos and is dated to the 2nd century AD.

Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis
Apollo Ylatis, God of the woodland, was the protector of the city of Kourion. The cult of Apollo was celebrated here from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The southwest side of the temple has been resorted and excavations have also revealed other structures of this important sanctuary such as the bath complex, the pilgrim halls, the Palaistra and a holy precinct.

Amathous Ancient Site
One of the ancient city kingdoms of Cyprus where, according to mythology, Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne to be taken care of after his battle with the Minotaur. A very important cult of Aphrodite Astarte flourished here. Excavations have revealed parts of the Acropolis and Agora areas, as well as part of the upper and lower city. The remains including five early Christian Basilicas date from the Archaic, Roman and Christian periods.

Church of Panagia Iamatiki
A three-aisled wooden roofed church with excellent wall paintings of the Itlao- Byzantine style, dating to the first half of the 16th century.

Kourris Valley
A series of important Byzantine monuments which can be found along the Kourris Valley, about 20 mins from Lemesos. The vaulted Church of the Monastery of Panagia tis Amasgou belongs to the 12 th century and is covered by a 2nd roof made of wood and tiles. The Church retains 12th, 14th and 16th century wall paintings. The monastery is now run as a nunnery.

The Archangelos at Monargi was built in 1740on the foundations of an older monastery that had burned down. Of interested is the painted wood-carved iconostasis and the nearby olive oil mill of the Roman period. The northern buildings of the monastery have been renovated and turned into a center for Contemporary Art.