Limassol, the second largest city in Cyprus,
sits along the Akrotiri Bay on the island's southern
coast. It's unique combination of tourism and
port commerce make it a unique and diverse city
in which to work and play. In contrast to Limassol's
bustling commerce and luxurious resorts, ancient
buildings stand as colossal monuments to the past.
These monuments offer a spectrum of activities
to residents and visitors alike. We've listed
some prime examples below.
Kolossi Castle
Just outside of Limassol, lavish orchards protect
the nearly ancient Kolossi Castle, a stunning
example of 13th century military architecture.
Dating back to around 1200, The Knights of Jerusalem
took over the magnificent structure in 1308 and
used it as their Grand Commandry until Genoese
conquered the castle and burned the city in 1137.
Suffering much damage under Genoese and succumbing
to major devastation by a 15th century earthquake,
the present castle was rebuilt in the late 1400s,
after which it suffered more damage in subsequent
earthquakes and battles. The castle eventually
came under the domain of the Knights of Templar.
Limassol Fort
Another example of ancient military ruins, the
14th century Limassol Fort's history dates back
to 1191, when Richard the Lion-Hearted married
Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her the new
Queen of England. The historic site of a Byzantine
fortification, the Fort now houses medieval relics
in the Cyprus Medieval Museum.
St. Nicholas of the Cats
With the history of St. Nicholas of the Cats
church dating back to 325 A.D., the St. Nicholas
of Cats building in Limassol only goes back to
the 13th century. When the area fell under Turkish
rule, the church building became abandoned in
1570. In fact, a marble coat of arms decorates
the entrance, harkening back to the medieval days.
Today, cats-originally brought in to control
snakes-now overrun the halls of the church, which
nuns occupy.
Kourion
About 14km southwest of Limassol is a small archeological
museum. The vast and interesting collection of
archeological finds from nearby Episkopi village
more than makes up for the museum's small size.
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates/ Ylatis
Three kilometers west of Kourion, lies the Sanctuary
of Apollo Hylates, a grand haven built in honor
of the God of the Woodland who protected the city
of Kourion.
Resident's celebrated the Cult of Apollo here
from the eight century B.C. to the fourth century
A.D. Today, important structures in the sanctuary
are left, including the Priest's House, a bath
complex, pilgrim halls, and holy precinct. Many
other interesting parts of the Sanctuary include
a partially restored Temple of Apollo, the old
Paphos Gate and a circular votive pit where priests
put unwanted gifts.
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