Landmarks
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Archaeological sites[edit]
Amathus[edit]
Ancient city of Amathus
Amathus is an ancient city-kingdom, located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of Limassol, dating back to 1100 BC, with a rich history with various influences by various civilisations. The most notable ruin is considered to be the Temple of Aphrodite, a major centre of worship and a sacred place for ceremonies and offerings, sitting atop the Acropolis of Amathus. Many tombs dating to the Iron Age are present, as well as remnants of public baths and other buildings in the ancient agora. A large limestone amphora, now housed in the Louvre, was found in Amathus. This vase dates back to the 6th century BC and weighs 14 tonnes (14,000 kg).
Kourion[edit]
Kourion agora
Kourion is another ancient city-kingdom, situated approx. 19 kilometres (12 mi) west of Limassol, with a rich history dating back to the Neolithic period, with significant developments during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Christian periods. The centerpiece of Kourion is the Greco-Roman theatre, originally built in the 2nd century BC and expanded in the 2nd century AD. It has been restored and is still used for open-air performances, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates was dedicated to Apollo Hylates, the god of the woodland. It includes the remains of a temple, a bath complex, and a palaestra (wrestling school).
Museums[edit]
Limassol CastleThe medieval Limassol Castle is one of the ten castles of Cyprus, constructed by the Byzantines around 1000 AD. A chapel was also built on the site during the same period. It is believed that Richard the Lionheart married his fiancée, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, at this location in 1191 after her ship was grounded nearby while she was accompanying him on the Third Crusade. The castle served as a prison from 1790 to 1940 and now functions as a medieval museum. The museum's collection spans from 400 to 1870 AD, showcasing a variety of exhibits including cannons, 17th and 18th-century wood carvings, paintings, tombstones, statues, suits of armor, coins, terracotta, metalware, pottery, glass, and marble artifacts. The Kolossi Castle, around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west of Limassol, is a medieval fortress originally built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller. The current structure, rebuilt in 1454, features a well-preserved three-story keep and an attached rectangular enclosure. The castle played a significant role in the production of sugar from local sugarcane and is also associated with the famous Commandaria wine.Folk Art MuseumThe Folk Art Museum is located in a preserved historic house and features a collection of Cypriot folk art from the past two centuries. The collection includes national costumes, tapestries, embroidery, wooden chests, waistcoats, men's jackets, necklaces, various light garments, town costumes, and rural tools. Established in 1985, the museum houses over 500 exhibits across six rooms. It was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 1989. Visitors can explore Cypriot culture through these handmade exhibits.
The Archaeological Museum has a collection of antiquities discovered in the district, spanning from the Neolithic Age to the Roman period. Among the notable artifacts are stone axes from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, pottery and objects from the ancient cities of Kourion and Amathus, as well as Roman terracottas, gold jewelry, coins, sculptures, columns, vases, earrings, rings, necklaces, and marble statues. The museum was originally located within the Limassol Castle before being relocated to a site near the Public Gardens.
Since 2024 the non-profit PSI Foundation established in an old carob warehouse located in the industrial area of Limassol hosts exhibitions of modern and contemporary art as well as history of Cyprus. First exhibition dedicated to 50th anniversary of the invasion, "Casts of an Island 2024", was proclaimed "Cultural Event of the Year" by Thoukis awards.
Parks[edit]
Patticheio Municipal Museum
The Limassol Public Gardens, located along the coastal road, boasts a diverse array of vegetation, including eucalyptus trees, pine trees, and cypresses. Within the garden, is the Limassol Zoo, which houses deer, moufflons, ostriches, pheasants, tigers, lions, monkeys, vultures, pelicans, flamingos and various other animals and birds. The Patticheio Municipal Museum and an open theatre, which was renovated to host international performances, are also within the gardens.
The Limassol Molos, a multifunctional seaside park from reclaimed land that spans one-kilometre (0.62-mile), is one of the city's largest hotspots, as well as one of the largest parks on the island. Fishing, kayaking and many other watersports can be done off the piers of the park. The Limassol Sculpture Park, commissioned by the Limassol Municipality, can be found at Molos. The sculptures were created by Costas Dikefalos, Thodoros Papayiannis, Vassilis Vassili and Kyriakos Rokos from Greece, Helene Black from Cyprus, and more.
