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Limassol
Limassol
Museums in Limassol
Greek Lemesós, Turkish Limassol, city
and chief port of the Republic of Cyprus. The city lies on Akrotiri
Bay, on the southern coast, southwest of Nicosia; it is the
island's second largest city and is also its chief tourist centre.
Limassol's rise from a humble market town between the ancient
settlements of Amathus and Curium took place at the end of the
Byzantine Empire, when Richard I the Lion-Heart landed for his
Crusade campaign.
Limassol has been known to traders for its sugar cane. Now as
the second largest city of north Cyprus, with a population of
135 000, it is also the center the Cypriot wine industry.
In Limassol Richard the Lion Heart married Berengaria of Navarre,
touching off the most extravagant party the island had ever
seen. Today, the tradition of celebration and hospitality continues
in this vibrant seaside town. In February before Lent, masked
revelers invade the street with music, parades, and dancing
for Carnival. In September, the Wine Festival explodes in the
town for a week. Every night people in restaurants, cafés,
and nightclubs celebrate events momentous and trivial, from
a soccer win to a sudden romance to yet another stunning sunset
at day’s end.
As a shopping centre Limassol 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 uncrowded, particularly
those on the outskirts of town, such as the sandy beach Known
as "Ladies Mlle', west of the new harbour. Limassol also
has an attractive, newly-completed marina equipped with every
facility for the yachtsman.
At 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, where
you can take in a play or concert at the ancient
Greco-Roman Theatre,overlooking theblue Mediterranean. A bit further on, you
can explore a treasure trove of Greek and Roman sites.
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