Limassol boasts the
deepest operating harbour on the island, and serves as the major point of trade and business for import/export activities. Limassol also boasts the largest number of annual fairs and festivals, and of course the annual carnival celebration on the island is an experience one should not miss.
Limassol's
medieval castle is another Lusignan structure which was built upon foundations dating back to Byzantine times. As with the other castles on the island, numerous modifications and expansions were performed during the periods of Venetian, Ottoman and British rule. Following the imprisonment of his sisters, and his subsequent sacking of the island, King Richard the LionHeart married Princess Berengaria of Navarre within the castle chapel. The Knights' Hall and Main Hall displays here are exceptional as well as the sarcophagi chamber.
Above Limassol to the east lies the
ruins of Amathous, an ancient port. Amathous was the first of Cyprus' city-states, and has been inhabited by Greeks, Eqyptians, Phoenicians and Jews over the centuries. The town gained its name from its founder, Amathus, who was son of Aerias and King of Paphos, back between the 10th and 8th centuries BC when it was founded. Once Christianity arrived in Cyprus, the first bishop of Amathous, St Tychon, founded the first Christian church in the area. He is to this day the patron saint of Amathous. The city prospered and grew until the 7th century AD when it was destroyed in the Arab raids along with most other coastal settlements. For those who are interested in trivia, in modern times the site served as a quarry for massive slabs of rock which were utilised in the building of the Suez Canal. The site holds an impressive location above the seaside, granting a visage of the entire area and afforded defenders an excellent watchpoint for ships approaching from a distance. The
marketplace with its remaining dozen columns is the most preserved section of the site, along with the remaining sections of the aqueduct system and a bathhouse. There were originally two temples within the Acropolis, one to Hercules and one for Aphrodite. Only the bare remains of these sites of worship remain, but close by the ruins of a basilica from the 5th century are in better form, as well as the imposing fragments of the defensive walls which line the road. Following a massive earthquake the coastal portion of the settlement collapsed and its artifacts and ruins line the seabed surrounding the area.
A short distance west of Limassol is
Kourion, the best-preserved archeological site in this area. Kourion features some lovely mosaics, a Byzantine stadium, baths, a theatre, and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates is also nearby.
Ancient Kourion was one of the major centres of the island for religious, political, and cultural life. The nearby
Sanctuary of Apollo served to maintain its status as a destination of pilgrims. The Mycenaeans founded the town in the 12th century BC on top of a bluff -- a location which served to provide excellent defensive capabilities to its occupants as well controlling the surrounding land which proved extremely fertile. Kourion was a major centre of influence during the Roman and Ptolemy periods, only collapsing in the early 4th century due to a series of cataclysmic earthquakes. Notable places of interest to visit are
Achilles' House, the Nymphaeum, the theatre, and the impressive
House of Eustolios.
Kalavassos was a mining town when the copper mines were still active in Cyprus, and still features on display a steam engine which served the workers well during the operations. Restoration has been performed by the Cyprus Agrotourism Company on some of the houses and surrounding buildings to facilitate tourist use. Nearby in
Tenta, a large tent which is visible from the motorway covers a portion of an excavated neolithic settlement which existed in this area, which features a defensive wall encompassing a stone roundhouse surrounded by clay huts.
Tochni is also nearby, which is one of the more popular agrotourism locations in Cyprus. Located in a valley, Tochni sits peacefully amidst olive tree groves and vineyards with a small church serving as its focal point.
Khirokitia is one of the oldest settlements in Cyprus, dating back almost 9000 years. A large stone wall surrounded the settlement, which at its peak numbered about 2000 in population. The city was located on the hillside overlooking the river Maroni and comprised beehive stone and clay huts. Within the settlement the deceased were interred under the floors of their houses, and buried with gifts and whatever personal effects they may have required in the afterlife. The community was based upon agriculture and in addition to farming and tending to livestock, produced woven goods and clay figurines and artifacts. Many remnants of jewelry, pottery, and flint blades have been uncovered by the archeologists here. Much of the artifacts and items on display in the main Cyprus Museum in the capital come from this site, and approximately 50 buildings and foundations have been excavated with some reconstruction efforts having been completed also. The entire Khirokitia site is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and is protected.
