Limassol
Limassol is the largest municipality in Cyprus and has experienced great development after the Turkish invasion in 1974. Since then it has become the biggest port in the Mediterranean for tourist and trade transit in the area. Limassol is renowned for its long cultural tradition and boasts a wide spectrum of activities, museums and archaeological sites. A unique combination of ancient, Frankish, Byzantine and other modern influences are here to be enjoyed. Limossol provides a flashback into the history of Cyprus as it is steeped in Greek mythology and the conquests by Franks, Romans, Venetians, Ottomans, British and more recently part of it in 1974 by the Turks. During the Crusades, Richard the Lion-Heart, leader of the Third Crusade landed in Limassol to free his betrothed, Berengaria of Navarre, who was held captive by the Byzantine sovereign. They married in the town and afterwards had the most extravagant party the island has ever seen. Limassol is commonly recognised as the wine-making town of Cyprus. Historically Limassol was the centre of the wine trade and wine making in Cyprus and almost all exports of wine and spirits were made from the port of Limassol There are two well known vine areas for the production of the quality table wines, Krasohoria and Pitsilia.
Every house in the wine village of Limassol was also a small winery where the owner vine grower had all the apparatus for the making, storing, aging and transporting of the wine. The small vine-grower felt joy and pride when he could invite guests to his dining table and offer his own vintage which had been aging for more than a year. For those interested in eco-tourism, there are plenty of other attractions. Mention should be made of its rich forest cover that includes oak, cyprus, black pine and other types of vegetation. Wildlife comprises mainly some small mammals, such as the mouflon (deer-like goat), fox, hare, hedgehog and 61 species of birds, besides snakes and lizards. The nearby Troodos Mountains are a tourists' delight and Cypriots describe them as the “Fruit basket of Europe”. Apples, apricots, grapes, strawberries, cherries, bananas, oranges, melons, pistachio and almonds are among the fruits that grow in the rich, fertile soil of the Troodos Mountains. The nearby Troodos Mountains are a tourists' delight and Cypriots describe them as the “Fruit basket of Europe”. Apples, apricots, grapes, strawberries, cherries, bananas, oranges, melons, pistachio and almonds are among the fruits that grow in the rich, fertile soil of the Troodos Mountains. The beaches of Limassol are a mixture of sand and pebbles with the favourite ones being Curium, Lady's Mile, Governors Beach and Dasoudi. In the old town of Limassol shopping opportunities are excellent. All water sports are widely available, including scuba diving, water skiing, water sailing, windsurfing, para-sailing and boating. There are numerous restaurants and tavernas to suit everyones taste including Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, typical Cypriot taversas, pizzerias, kebab bars, but seafood lovers should head for the fish tavernas dotted all along the coast. Nightlife in Limassol can be quiet or lively as there are plenty of discos, nightclubs and bars to choose from.
