08 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Limassol
1. Wander the streets of Lofou Village.
Lofou cute little cobblestone streets and houses with limestone walls and red roofs – typical of typical villages in the Manderia region. Surrounded by gardens and fields of wild fennel, this lively spot is the perfect opportunity for aimless strolls and enjoying traditional Cypriot life.
Old women perch on doorsteps chatting among knitting needles, while goats roam back alleys filled with colorful baskets of geraniums and marigolds.
The church of Panagia Chrysolovetissa dominates the western part of the village and is said to have been built right on the spot where local shepherds saw a light appear while tending their flocks. While investigating the incident, the shepherds found an icon of the Virgin Mary and built a church in her honor.
Built between 1854 and 1872, the interior features fine frescoes depicting the lives of several saints and a particularly beautiful mezzanine.
The city of Lofou is located 28 km northwest of the center of Limassol. Public transportation in the Mandaria region is very limited, so it’s best to rent a car.
2. Hiking in the hills around Platres
High in the Troodos mountain range, the small village of Platres teems with local and foreign tourists in the summer, when the beach temperature starts to drop. A high-altitude resort, first popularized during the British colonial era, it has hosted a number of famous escapes from the heat, including King Farouk of Egypt.
Today, it is a favorite crater for hikers and nature lovers who are drawn to the lush and beautiful Troodos Mountains.
Despite the onset of tourism, the village has retained its traditional character. The narrow streets are lined with sturdy, well-preserved stone houses. Many overhanging balconies sport a creak.
Just outside town lie the cool waters of the Caledonian Falls, while those who want a little more bang for their buck can don their hiking shoes and head down the hill to the village of Foene or, for something a little different. , they can climb. Poziaris village.
Buses leave from Limassol three times daily to Platres, 39 km north of the city.
3. See Sanctuary of Apollo
Commemorating Apollo of Helites, god of the forest and protector of ancient Kourion, the temple dates from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Excavations have revealed other structures that once existed at the site, including a bathhouse, a hall for pilgrims, and a sanctuary.
Today, however, the triumphal columns of the central sanctuary alone are the only well-preserved part of what must have been an impressive religious complex.
Visitors can also visit the priest’s house where the mosaic remains are. A paved path then runs along the portico of the south building and up a flight of steps to a plastra (court) once used for sports.
Apollo Sanctuary is located just three kilometers west of ancient Kourion (20 km west of central Limassol) and is best visited as part of a Kourion tour.
4. Admire the architecture of Kykkos Monastery.
This Greek Orthodox monastery, located about 74 km north of Limassol, is one of the most important monasteries in Cyprus.
It was built under the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I after a local ascetic saw an icon of the Virgin Mary painted by Saint Luke on his way to Cyprus from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) and was ordered by a local Byzantine ruler. What was agreed to go? capital to accumulate.
The ruler, who was suffering from illness, recovered once his task was completed and persuaded the emperor to build a church near the hermit’s cave.
Today, the icon itself is a prominent place within the monastery, although much of the original monastery structure was destroyed by fire. The current building dates back to 1831.
Next to the monastery is an interesting Byzantine museum that houses an important collection of religious artifacts owned by the monastery. There is a large amount of sculptures, manuscripts and religious art.
Kykkos Monastery and the Byzantine Museum are located 20 km west of Pedoulas village in the Troodos Massif.
5. Daily visit to Pedolas Village
Pedolas is located in the Marathassa Valley in the Troodos Massif and is home to cultural attractions, including the frescoed Church of Archangel Michael and the Folk Museum.
The church is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the village, as it is one of the painted churches of the Troodos Mountains included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It dates back to 1474, with some wonderful frescoes of biblical scenes on its interior.
To learn about traditional Cypriot culture, visit the Folk Museum, which houses exhibits on the distinctive history and lifestyle of the local people in the Marhatassa Valley over the centuries.
Pedolas is located 60 km northwest of Limassol. The town is a great base for exploring the Troodos Mountains, so there are plenty of accommodation options if you want to stay overnight rather than make a day trip from the coast.
6. Explore the depths of history in Chirocoetia.
Chirocoetia is one of the most important Neolithic settlements in the world. It is located on the main coastal road, 37 km east of Limassol and 34 km west of Larnaca, so it can be easily visited when traveling between the two cities.
The ruins here, consisting mainly of circular houses and tomb foundations surrounded by a defensive wall, date back to between 6,800-5,250 BC.
Archaeological excavations here revealed that every house in the settlement had a flat earthen floor, raised platforms on either side for sleeping, a fireplace, and a central post to support the roof. The houses are built close together and connected to each other by narrow lanes across the hill.
The site contains four main areas. The first area contains large remains of the foundations of the houses, including a large house up to nine meters high.
In another area, above the road, are Houses B and C, where archaeologists have discovered many burial plots.
District 3 contains several house foundations, including House F which contains 26 burials.
The last area is at the end of the location, up the hill. From here, you can see the remains of the defensive walls, and it is possible to get a clear impression of the site as a whole, which is otherwise quite obscure.
For the layman, the site may be a bit underwhelming as only the foundations remain, but the importance of Choirokoitia cannot be underestimated. Archaeologists’ work here has yielded many finds, including ornate pottery and artifacts that prove that the Neolithic culture was highly developed.
Most of the finds can be seen in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia.
7. Discover the ancient remains of Amathus.
According to mythology, this is where the god Theseus abandoned the bearer of Ariadne after his battle with the Minotaur. Amathus has been inhabited since about 1000 BC and was one of the four original city-states on the island.
The first inhabitants here may have been Mycenaeans, although there is no hard evidence to prove this. Most of the remains on display today date back to the Roman and Byzantine eras.
In Roman times, Amathus was an important port city, making its money by exporting the island’s copper and timber, but the city’s glory began to wane after it was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes during the 4th century.
Rubble is spread out and there is not much to see in Koverion. The most obvious feature is the agora where a large number of columns have been rebuilt, and traces of some early walls can be seen.
On the hill above are the remains of the Acropolis and the Temple of Aphrodite, with a large stone vessel marking the entrance, while at the bottom of the hill are a ruined Byzantine basilica.
Ancient Amathus is located on the sea road on the northeastern edge of Limassol, 11 km from the old city centre.
8. See the collection inside the Archaeological Museum of Limassol
Located just behind the Limassol Municipal Gardens, the city’s Archaeological Museum houses an interesting collection of artifacts found in the Limassol area, dating from antiquity to Roman times.
The first room contains Neolithic tools and pottery excavated at Kourion and Amathus, as well as in the city itself. It is a fascinating exposition of the vast history of Cyprus spanning a long period from 3000 BC to 1300 AD.
The two-room contains artifacts from the Greco-Roman period, including a magnificent bronze bull and some delicate carvings, while the third room contains some important finds from the local area, including statues of the Egyptian god Bess and the goddess Artemis. It was discovered on Amathus. .
Outside, within the pleasant garden, is a sundial, once owned by Lord Kitchener.