HISTORY

Limassol, the second largest city of the island is situated on the southern part of Cyprus, emerged out of two of the most important ancient city-kingdoms, Amathus, to the east of the town, and Kourion to the west, both of which are being extensively excavated.

Since the Middle Ages when the Crusaders had Cyprus under Richard the Lionheart, Limassol has been known to traders for its wine and sugar cane. Thereafter the Crusaders made their headquarters at the Square Keep west of the city, known as Kolossi Medieval Castle, where they fostered the making of wines, particularly the sweet dessert with "Commandaria" - the oldest named wine in the world. Now, with a population of 165.000 is the center of Cyprus winemaking industry, and an important commercial and tourist center.

Today Limassol is an excellent sea resort, with a ten-mile coastline; a busy shopping center, countless bars and restaurants nightlife to suit tastes ranging from modest to sophisticate and it's an important seaport, industrial, tourist, offshore and port of registry center. The modern economic development of the city started in the beginning of the 20th Century with the creation of what is called the traditional industry of the area, the wine and spirit industry. During that time there was also the development of large citrus and vineyard plantations, west of Limassol. The city was also the major exporting center of Amiantus ore which was transferred from Troodos mountain via a 24-kilometre aerial cableway to the city's shore where was loaded to cargo ships for export.

Limassol is the home of all the wineries, which made Cyprus famous for it's exceptionally good wine. Wine making in Cyprus run deep into the islands history, as deep as the roots of the vine grow into the earth, and the history of the wine is parallel with the history of the island with all its Fortunes and misfortunes.

The tourist industry started developing to an important economic activity in the 1930's with Platres on Mount Olympus being a major tourist destination at the time with many visitors from Greece and Egypt including the most famous of all the king of Egypt Farouk. The industrial activity in Limassol has changed face with the creation of the first industrial area in 1969 and with the completion of the new Limassol port at the beginning of 1970's. Although Limassol was becoming a major commercial center on the island, the real growth came after the terrible events of 1974, the Turkish invasion where 200,000 Cypriots lost their homes and properties. The city's population was tripled overnight. The events of 1974 as well as the war in Lebanon the following year interrupted Limassol's potential in becoming a major trade and shipping center not only on the island but also of the Middle East.