Limassol

Limassol rise from a humble market town to busy coastal resort took place at the end of the Byzantine Empire when Richard I the Lion-Heart landed for his Crusade campaign. It is now the second largest city of Southern Cyprus with a population of 135000 and is the centre of the Cypriot wine industry. As a shopping centre Limassol has the full range from ultra modern to traditional and hand made. Shoes and clothes can be made to measure in a matter of days. Busy St Andrews Street, not far from the seafront promenade, makes a fascinating trip with its quaint buildings and overhanging terraces under which an abundance of small shops strive for attention on this narrow, jostling street. Another important shopping street is Makarios Avenue where many prestigious boutiques and showrooms are located, as well as small shops of every type.

There are numerous beaches to choose from in the Limassol area. Some very popular during midsummer with the convenience of changing rooms, showers, bars and cafes, others quite un crowded, particularly those on the outskirts of town, such as the sandy beach known as Ladies Mile, west of the new harbour. Limassol also has an attractive, newly-completed marina equipped with every facility for the yachtsman. 14 km west of Limassol lies Kolossi Castle, a medieval fortress whose walls contain not only an imposing tower and surrounding living quarters but also an ancient sugar factory. Just 19 km west of town, you can visit the Kourion archaeological site, an ancient city-kingdom.