The Republic of Cyprus (established 1960) is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is also known as Aphrodite’s Island since antiquity as her famed birthplace is found on Cyprus.  Located about 113 km (70 miles) from the south of Turkey, 120 km (74 miles) west of the Syrian coast, the history of Cyprus is fascinating and dates from the Stone Age (Neolithic) time to the present.   The island nation is divided into six districts: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Nicossia, Larnaca, Limassol, and Paphos. 

The City of Limassol, also known as Lemesos, is the capital of the District of Limassol and is located on the southern coast of Cyprus.  A small section is leased to the United Kingdom and it houses one of the two British military bases on the island. 

Limassol has a great location.  A popular tourist destination you can find fashionable spas and many sea-side resorts on ten miles of great beaches which has famed this area as the Cypriot Riviera.  You can golf, cycle, or scuba dive.  There are mountains behind Limassol and it gets sunshine all year round.  If the beach is not enough there are many places of interest to visit and things to do in and around Limassol like visit fortresses, the Municipal Gardens, the Folk Art Museum, the Cyprus Medieval Museum, or participate in festivals.

International Cruise Ships dock at Limassol’s busy commercial Port and you can find all types of cuisine local or international as well as bars and clubs.  You can have Meze which is a meal consisting of thirty small dishes served with rice. There is a lot of nature and landscaping on the island and you can see some of this in and around Limassol. The local Cypriots have drained marshland for citrus orchards.  Limassol is also the centre of the wine industry in Cyprus and if you like you can arrange a visit to one of the local wineries near Limassol which is highly recommended.  Cypriots have grape, olive, almond, and citrus orchards. You can drive from Limassol to many of the other Archaeological sites and Monuments in Cyprus as public transportation may not be in service and driving is recommended.  Old Limassol is very scenic and the Lofou Village in the foothills of the Troodo Mountains is also a good spot to visit. If you get from Limassol to the Troodo Mountains don’t forget to visit the painted Byzantine Churches, ten of which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Places of interest in and around Limassol

• Khirokitia (District of Larnaca about 66 km or 41 miles from Limassol) – excellent example of Neolithic European culture
• Rock of Aphrodite aka Petra Tou Romiou aka Rock of the Greek is about a 30 minute drive from Limassol to Pafos.  This is the famous birthplace of Aphrodite.
• Limassol is located 19 km (6 miles) East from the ruins of Amathus and 19 km (6 miles) West from the ruins of Kourion
• Amathus (19 km (6 miles) east of Limassol) – ancient City State from 1100 B.C.E. to Byzantium; Excavated areas consist of a walled acropolis, lower town, port, and necropolis.  Part of the city lies underwater and remains unexcavated.
• Kourion (19 km (6 miles) west of Limassol) – from antiquity to early middle ages, Greco-Roman Forum, well preserved mosaics, public bath, House of Achilles, House of Gladiators, Fountain House, and the Nymphaeum (natural or artificial grotto filled with fountains, plants, and paintings).
• The Limassol District Archaeological Museum exhibits from the pre-Neolithic period 10,000 B.C.E. – 8500 BCE to the Late Roman or early Byzantine Period 324-7^th Common Era
• Folk Art Museum exhibits tapestries, costumes, embroidery, and other local island arts and crafts.
• Kolossi Castle
• To the south of Limassol  is Lady's Mile Beach
• Akrotiri Salt Lake not far from Limassol is the winter home of thousands of flamingos.
• Akrotiri Peninsula – Sanctuary of the Cats, archaeological trail known as the” Dreamers – caution recommended if visiting by car. 
• Southern Cliffs of the Akrotiri Peninsula – Aetokremnos Site contains remains of pygmy hippopotami and elephants.
• Water Mania at Phasouri has a wave pool and other aquatic attractions, 10km (6.2 miles) west of Limassol.
• Dassoudi Beach

 Festivals in Limassol

• The Limassol Carnival which takes place for ten days in February-March,
• or the Anthestiria “Flower Festival” held annually in May
• “Kataklysmos" - Festival of the Flood held in June
• Ancient Greek Drama Festival held in July – August
• The Grape Festival held annually in September

Time Line of Cyprus and Limassol

Stone Age Cyprus circa 8,500 – 8,000 B.C.E.

• There is an excavated cave to the west of Limassol in South Cyprus- Aetokremnos Site on the Akrotiri Peninsula  where pygmy hippo and elephant bones were found
• The Limassol Museum exhibits the pygmy hippo and elephant bones

The Khirokitians, Neolithic Age Cyprus circa  - 7,000 – 5, 300 B.C.E.

• Khirokitia  (District of Larnaca about 66 km or 41 miles from Limassol) had an estimated population of 2, 000
• Excellent example of Neolithic culture excavated in Europe; its inhabitants lived in round shaped homes and used stone and wood.  Evidence of obsidian suggests trade with other cultures.

Sotira Culture -  4,500-4,000 B.C.E.

• Pottery introduced
• Copper comes into use
• Small villages in the south near Kourion (19 km West of Limassol) also known as Curium
• Sotira known for archaeologist Porphyrios Dikaios famous Neolithic settlement at Teppes about 15 km west of Limassol and 400 m from Kaminoudhia (Cypriot Bronze Age excavation settlement)

Copper (Chalcolitic) Age – 4,000 – 2,500 B.C.E.

• evidence of this age is found closer to Paphos than Limassol
• Discovery of Copper on Cyprus brought trading ships to Cyprus

The Cypriot Bronze Age (Early and Middle) – 2,700 – 1, 600 B.C.E.

• inhabitants kept cattle, horses, and bronze making introduced
• Cypriot pottery style
• Kaminoudhia – Philia and early Cypriot occupation 400 metres away from Sotira which is 15 km west of Limassol

Hittite Rule – 1,500- 1,450 B.C.E.

• Development of ceramics and a distinctive script

Egyptian Rule – 1450 – 1000 B.C.E.

• Egyptian domination of the island

City States – 1,200 – 1,000 B.C.E.

• Limassol lies between the remains of two city states Amathus (19 km away from Limassol) and Khourion (19 km west of Limassol)
• Amathus part of which lies under water had been settled since the Neolithic period but finds of this time are rare.  Excavations show Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods of settlement.  You can see a walled acropolis, lower town, port, and necropolis.
• Khourion is an important ancient city-kingdom and one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the island.

Cypro-Geometric I and II – 1,000 – 850 B.C.E.

• Amathus – tombs from this period (19 km from Limassol)

Phoenician Renaissance – 850 – 750 B.C.E.

• Amathus - same town had strong Phoenician sympathies (19 km from Limassol)

Assyrian Era - 750 - 612 B.C.E

• Inscriptions on stone tablets

Egyptian Rule 568 - 525 B.C.E.

• evidenced in sculpture rigidity of dress but later discarded for Greek styles

Persian Occupation 525 - 333 B.C.E.

• Excavations of royal palaces in the north coast near Palaepaphos

Hellenistic Rule 333  - 58 B.C.E.

• Kourion (19 km west of Limassol) has a superb Greco-Roman theatre where concerts and Shakespeare's plays are performed in summer
• House of Eustolios has beautiful mosaics
• Sanctuary of Apollo Yletis
• Stadium
• Acropolis and ruins
• Amathus – Temple of Aphrodite (19 km from Limassol)

Roman Empire 58 B.C.E. - 395 C.E.

• Kourion (19 km West of Limassol) – Roman mosaics, Greco-Roman Forum, extensive ruins show Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods of settlement.  You can see a walled acropolis, lower town, port, and necropolis.

Byzantine Empire 395 - 1191 C.E.

• Existing temples became churches and numerous Christian Basilica Churches built
• the Ayios Georgios Alamanos nunnery

Richard the Lionheart’s Rule 1191 – 1192 C.E.

• His fleet landed in Limassol and captured the island in 1191 C.E.
• Kolossi Castle - 14 km west of Limassol Mediaeval architecture – Templar Knights
• Limassol Castle – Cyprus Mediaeval Castle

Frankish Lusignan Dynasty 1192 - 1489 C.E.

• Guy of Lusignan purchased Cyprus from the Templars
• Period of Gothic construction

Venetian Domination – 1489 – 1570 C.E.

• Venice took control of Cyprus in 1489
• Kolossi Castle (14 KM west of Limassol) tower, living quarters, and an ancient sugar factory

Ottoman Empire - 1571 – 1878 C.E.

• Lala Mustafa conquered Cyprus in 1571
• Ottoman empire gave land grants (timars)  to soldiers under the condition that they and their families would stay in Cyprus
• Ottoman growth

Other Notable Periods for Cyprus

British Rule 1878- 1960 C.E.

Republic of Cyprus – 1960 C.E.

1963: Collapse of the Constitutional rule

1974: Coup d’état to overthrow then President Makarios and re-unite Cyprus with Greece; Turkish intervention led to Turkish-Cypriot North and Greek-Cypriot South

November 15, 1983: Foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - contested by the United Nations.

References

• http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot
• http://www.world66.com/asia/middleeast/cyprus/limassol
• http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/cy.htm
• http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/01.htm
• http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/02.htm
• http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Cyprus-Akrotiri-Lake-Coast.htm
• http://www.cyprustours.co.uk/kurium-limassol.htm
• http://www.archaeometry.gr/leventis/pubs/pubAmathus.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amathus
• http://www.landfallnavigation.com/cmapnteurope.html
• http://greecetravel.com/cruise/mediterranean-cruise-tours/cyprus.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kourion
• http://www.cyprusjourneys.com/journey8.html
• http://www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/museum/buton1-eng.html
• http://home.clara.net/heureka/cyprus/history.htm
• http://www.scsp.arts.gla.ac.uk/Pages/Reports/prehistoric.html
• http://www.vacationstogo.com/cruiseports/viewport.cfm?port=128

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This is an unofficial page about Limassol