Culture of Limassol. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Limassol is a picturesque resort with an abundance of interesting attractions, museums and archaeological areas. Landmark attraction is the old fort located near the waterfront. In 1191, the marriage ceremony of Richard the Lionheart and Berengaria of Navarre was held there. Today the part of this wonderful castle hosts the Museum of the Middle Ages, which has exhibits of household items, pottery and ancient tombstones.

No less interesting is the Archaeological Museum located a few steps from the city park. It hosts a collection of artifacts that were found in suburban areas of Limassol. Scientists continue to work in such important archaeological regions as Amathus and Kourion, so the museum's collection is regularly updated with new exhibits.

Among religious sites, Church of St. Catherine is worth mentioning. This is one of the few Catholic places of worship on the island. The church was built in best traditions of the Baroque style. Thousands of tourists come here every day to admire the spectacular structure. It’s worth to look inside the church and see high vaulted ceilings decorated with artful Byzantine painting. Limassol area also houses many interesting excursion sites, so travelers should not be limited to only one city. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The interesting place is the Kolossi Castle built in the 15th century on the site of an ancient fortress. Visitors are invited to stroll through spacious halls of the old castle and look to the nearby sugar factory. Travelers who want to learn more about the production of the main national drink are advised to see the village of Erimi. There is one of the world's famous wineries and a wine museum here. The museum's collection is very interesting and diverse. Both historical documents and clay vessels, in which a drink was held a few centuries ago, and beautiful crockery are represented here.

In the immediate vicinity of Limassol there is the most important archaeological site in the island, the city-state of Kourion. According to one version, in the 4th century the city was completely destroyed by a massive earthquake. Today, visitors can see ruins of ancient buildings and admire prehistoric constructions.

Tourists would be interested in the Cyprus Motor Museum, which has gathered a collection of cars that were popular in Cyprus at one time or another The first president's car is considered the most valuable item. Little visitors like to climb a double-decker bus, another unique exhibit. The Water Museum (Μουσείο Νερού) is worthy of a visit too. It tells about the nature and ecological situation on the planet. More specifically, one can understand how carefully water should be treated (the fact is that Cyprus has no fresh water, and this situation is given great attention).

Connoisseurs of fine and sculptural art will be very excited about a visit to Limassol Public Gallery (Δημοτική Πινακοθήκη Λεμεσού). The "Dialogue" sculpture created in honor of the friendship between Cyprus and Israel is especially popular. In the Municipal Museum of Folk Art, you can get acquainted with the folk art and traditional crafts of the residents' ancestors. This is one of those museums where tourists can plunge into the multifaceted local culture and learn a lot about it. It is also worth visiting the Rialto Theater (Θέατρο άιάλτο) to watch one of the great theatrical performances taking place at the cultural institution. Given that interesting cultural holidays are often held here too, one should certainly check some upcoming events.

Just outside the city, there is an archaeological site where the Temple of Apollo was once located. The place is fascinating with its antiquity and scale. The shrine can be found near the already mentioned Kourion. A peculiar local attraction is a giant oak growing near Lania Village. The majestic tree impresses all tourists - knowing that it is more than 800 years old, people come to indescribable delight from touching such an antique thing. Limassol Water Tower erected in 1931 deserves special mention. It is remarkable for being the former tallest building in the city. Today, the tower is just a great landmark - it is clearly visible from almost anywhere in Limassol.

Limassol has many interesting religious attractions, each building is a masterpiece of sacred architecture. These include Ayia Napa Church (Αγία Νάπα) striking with its atmosphere. However, it is even more noteworthy for its architecture and interior decoration. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the building has replaced another shrine that existed here since the middle of the 18th century. Exquisite Byzantine was chosen as the style of the new church. Distinctive features fascinating all travelers with their beauty are two high snow-white towers, as well as white marble sculptures located in the courtyard.

Among other monuments of religious architecture, it is worth highlighting the wonderful Church of St. Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος). The latter is considered the patron saint of the city, and therefore the temple is a special building, which can be admired for ages. Despite the small size, tourists and locals love to spend time here - and all thanks to its atmosphere and spaciousness. Unlike many other Islamic shrines, the Grand Mosque located in the city is open to the public. It was built in Moorish style of white limestone. Here you can find a lot of interesting information about the Muslim community in Limassol.