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Limassol: (Limasol -
Lemessos) |
Sprawling below the Troodos
Mountains , the modern resort of Limassol has become a Mecca for tourists
looking to unwind in the clubs and bars that crowd the port. It's a boisterous
place that's both Cyprus ' main commercial hub and the second biggest resort on
the island.
Limassol's charms are almost exclusively hedonistic and anyone looking for
culture (or peace and quite) would do well to give Limassol a wide berth. In
recent years Limassol has lost the Cypriot partying crown to Ayia Napa, but the
city still knows how to have a good time. The Mayor has been working hard to
clean up Limassol's image, but attempts to appeal to a more sophisticated
clientele have been slow to bear fruit.
Much has changed since Richard the Lionheart first put Limassol on the map in
1191. The then ruler Isaac Komnenos made the mistake of refusing hospitality to
King Richard's shipwrecked fiancé. A snubbed Richard landed on the island,
married at Limassol and then marched on Amathus where he deposed Isaac. Selling
the island to the Knights Templar he headed off to the Holy Land and left
Limassol to flourish in his wake. A combination of earthquakes, Genoese raiders
and the Ottomans forced the city into decline and it was only the arrival of the
British in the late nineteenth century that revived the city's fortunes.
Despite its rich past; Limassol has little of the classical heritage that
survives in other Cypriot cities. Aside form the castle, the bazaar and a couple
of museums there isn't all that much to see. However, visitors to Limassol
usually have a much livelier agenda. Limassol is well-placed to access some of
the island's best beaches, although those nearest to the city aren't the most
salubrious. Overlooking the city the Troodos Mountains are a haven of
tranquillity that provide welcome respite form the relative bustle below (as
well as a number of interesting days out). Limassol is one of the busiest ferry
ports in Cyprus , with regular sailings to destinations across the Middle East.
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