Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
25
Rialto Theatre
C2
26
Rogmes Live Music
C3
7
Shopping
28
Municipal Market
B3
29
Pana's Patchwork
B4
Pop 101,000
Still known to many as Limassol, Lemesos is one of Cyprus' most underrated cities. Al-
though fringed on its eastern edge by a glut of bland-looking developments with its eye
firmly on the tourism industry, the core of this city is full of character. Wrapped around
the dinky castle, the central old town radiates out in a squiggle of lanes where old
shuttered houses and modern boutiques both squeeze themselves into the fray. It's an area
buzzing with cafes, bars and restaurants that are as popular with locals as they are with
visitors.
This is the international business centre of Cyprus, and despite the financial woes of re-
cent years there's a sense of optimism in the air again. The construction of the long-
planned flashy marina beside the old harbour is still grinding along and grittier areas of
town are being tagged for a revamp. For travellers looking for a holiday that takes in more
than sun and sea, Lemesos is at the very heart of one of the island's richest areas for ex-
ploration. Basing yourself here puts you in easy striking distance to some of Cyprus' best
historical remnants and the verdant mountains of the Troödos region are within easy
reach.
History
In 1191 the crusader king Richard the Lion-heart put Lemesos on the map when he de-
feated the then ruler of Cyprus, Isaak Komninos, and took Cyprus and Lemesos for him-
self.
The city prospered for more than 200 years with a succession of Knights Hospitaller
and Templar as its rulers until earthquakes, marauding Genoese (1373) and Saracens
(1426) reduced Lemesos' fortunes to virtually zero. The city was still creating a bad im-
pression in the mid-20th century: Lawrence Durrell, writing in 1952 in
Bitter Lemons of
Cyprus,
noted upon arrival in Lemesos that 'we berthed towards sunrise in a gloomy and
