Limassol (Lemesos) is the island's main seaport and centre of the wine industry. In September the town has a wine festival, during which wine and food are served free. Cyprus is becoming established as a winter destination with both Platres and Kakopetria conveniently placed for the skiing season on the Mount Olympus.

A successor to two city-kingdoms and host to a Royal Wedding in the Middle Ages, contemporary Lemesos stretches along the south coast.

The second-largest city in Cyprus, Limassol is the island’s main industrial center and port. It is also the focus of Cyprus’ wine industry. In September, the town holds a wine festival, at which wine and food are served free. During the pre-Lenten Carnival, Limassol bursts into celebration, with bands, gaily decorated floats and dancing. The city is an important tourist destination, and has beaches like Dassoudi Beach and those at nearby Germasogeia, backed by cafes and tavernas. The Limassol Castle stands guard over the old harbor and houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. There is also a Folk Art Museum, the Limassol District Archaeological Museum and, in the Municipal Gardens, a small zoo.

There are several places of historical and archaeological interest around Limassol. Amathus, just outside the city to the east, was once the capital of a city-kingdom, but is now in ruins and partly covered by the sea. The Acropolis, Necropolis and the remains of an early Christian basilica can be seen, and excavation continues in the lower part of the ancient city. Further east lies Agios Georgios Alamanos Convent and the black sands of Governor’s Beach.

West of Limassol, at Fassouri, are extensive citrus orchards and the Water Mania leisure park. Nearby Kolossi Castle was the headquarters of the Crusader Knights of St John of Jerusalem. The ancient city of Kourion, on a steep hillside near Episkopi, has a superbly sited Graeco-Roman theater where concerts and Shakespearean plays are performed in summer. Kourion contains other interesting sites, including the House of Eustolios, which has beautiful mosaics; the Acropolis, the ruins of the Roman-era forum; the Christian Basilica; and public buildings. Beyond Kourion to the west are the city’s stadium and the Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis. All of these sites lie within the Akrotiri-Episkopi British Sovereign Base Area.

To the south of Limassol, on the Akrotiri Peninsula (and also inside the British military base), Lady’s Mile Beach is a long stretch of excellent sand. Nearby Akrotiri Salt Lake (dry in summer) is a winter home to thousands of flamingos; on its southern shore stands the Agios Nikolaos ton Gaton Convent.

Troodos Mountains

The scenery in the forested – or, more accurately, reafforested – mountains is spectacular. Platres, 1230 m (4035 ft) above sea level on the southern slopes, is the ideal base for excursions. It lies on the approaches to Mount Olympus, at 1952 m (6404 ft), the highest peak in Cyprus, with a summit that is invariably snow-covered in winter and has skiing slopes and facilities.

Prodromos, the highest village on the island, 1530 m (5019 ft) above sea level, is reputed to grow the best apples. Pedoulas in the fertile Marathasa Valley is famous for cherries (and in spring for cherry blossom) and other fruits. Kalopanagiotis also has orchards. Moutoullas is a source of mineral water bottled and sold locally as well as exported to the Middle East. Omodos, a restored conservation village, has the Stavros Monastery and a small Folk Art Museum. Foini is a center of local craft pottery. On the northeastern slopes, Kakopetria, 730m (2395ft) above sea level and a touring center like Platres, has a traditional quarter that is being protected and restored. Agros produces rose water, mineral water and wine. The Commandaria Region, midway down the southern slopes, where the grapes for the Commandaria sweet red dessert wine are grown, has attractive villages like Zoopigi, where almond and walnut trees grow.

Other places of interest include Kykkos Monastery, which houses a golden icon of the Virgin Mary; Throni tis Panagias, uphill from the monastery, where the tomb of the late Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, occupies a setting that commands a magnificent view; the small but prettily situated Kaledonia Falls; and the monasteries of Mesa Potamos and Trooditissa.

UNESCO has listed nine Byzantine churches in the mountains as World Heritage Sites for their magnificently frescoed interiors. These are Panagia tis Asinou near Nikitari, one of the finest examples of Byzantine art in the Levant; Stavros tou Agiasmati near Platanistasa; Agios Ioannis Lampadistis in Kalopanagiotis; Panagia tou Araka near Lagoudera; Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis southwest of Kakopetria; Panagia tis Podythou outside Galata; Archangelos Michail at Pedoulas; Panagia tou Moutoulla in Moutoullas; and Timiou Stavrou in Pelendri.

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