Limassol

Lore & Background

Limassol, also known as Lemesos, is situated on the southern coast of Cyprus. Its historical centre is built around the medieval Limassol Castle and the Old Port, and the city spreads along the Mediterranean coast, with suburbs extending eastward to the ancient site of Amathus. To the west lies Akrotiri, part of a British Overseas Territory. The city serves as the capital of the Limassol District. The name derives from the ancient Greek word "Nemesos," meaning "one found in the middle," a reference to its location between the ancient Greek city-kingdoms of Amathus and Kourion. Evidence of human activity in the area dates back to the Neolithic period, around 7000 BC, with later Bronze Age societies engaging in trade. Modern settlements likely began after the decline of Amathus around the 7th century AD. The city was historically known as Theodosiana and Neapolis, and by the 10th century it was called Lemesos. Its medieval history is tied to the Third Crusade; Richard the Lionheart destroyed Amathus and transferred its inhabitants to Limassol. The city later prospered under the Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus for about three centuries, becoming a centre of transportation and commerce. It was subsequently ruled by Venice, then conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1570 without resistance.

Reader's Guide

Limassol’s development was shaped by its position between the ancient city-kingdoms of Amathus and Kourion, with its name deriving from a Greek word meaning “one found in the middle.” The area shows evidence of human activity from the Neolithic period, with early farming communities present around 7000 BC, and later Bronze Age societies engaged in regional trade. The city’s historical centre grew around the medieval Limassol Castle and the Old Port, spreading along the Mediterranean coast. Its medieval history is closely tied to the Third Crusade: King Richard the Lionheart arrived in 1190, took the renegade Byzantine governor Isaac Komnenos captive, and celebrated his marriage to Berengaria in the city. Richard destroyed Amathus and moved its inhabitants to Limassol. The island was sold to the Knights Templar in 1191, then to Guy of Lusignan, establishing the Kingdom of Cyprus. For three centuries under Lusignan rule, Limassol prospered as a commercial and cultural hub. Venetian rule from 1489 brought heavy taxation and enslavement of the population. The Ottomans captured the city in 1538 and again in 1570, incorporating the castle remains into a new fort. Today, Limassol is the most populated municipality in Cyprus, the capital of Limassol District, and hosts the island’s main port. It is known for extravagant annual events and was ranked by TripAdvisor as the third most up-and-coming destination in the world in 2014. In Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking, it placed 90th in 2023, and in the 2022 GaWC ranking it was classified as a “high sufficiency” city.

Did You Know?

• Limassol's name derives from the ancient Greek word 'Nemesos,' meaning 'one found in the middle,' referring to its location between Amathus and Kourion.