Category: Discover Cyprus

Located in the old Turkish quarter, Kebir Mosque was built in the 16th century and is still operational today, making it one of the most important places of worship for the Moslems of Lemesos (Limassol).

Recent excavations to the east have also revealed the architectural remains of the 10th century cathedral of Agia Ekaterini.

Located on Agiou Andreou Street, Agia Napa Church was built towards the end of the 19th century – early 20th century, on the ruins of an older, smaller Byzantine church.

According to tradition, the church takes its name from an icon of the Virgin Mary, which was found in a glen (‘napa’ in Latin), and thus is dedicated to her. Other sources believe that the church owes its name to a temple built in the Frankish period, dedicated to the Holy Nappe of St. Berenice, known by the name of ‘Saint Nape’.

The present church – which was completed in 1906 – is three-aisled, with a marble iconostasis and frescoes mainly on the dome, and contains a silver-covered icon of Agia Napa.

Agia Anastasia Church is a complex of two domed churches located in Polemidia village. The older church – possibly dating to the 12th century – is on the east side and is a cross-in-square domed church. The second church, on the west side, was added in the 14th century and built in the same architectural style. The surviving mural paintings date back to the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries.

Located 20km east of Lemesos (Limassol) on the road to Nicosia (Lefkosia), Agios Georgios Alamanos was originally founded as a monastery in the 12th century, and now functions as a convent. Aside from performing their religious duties, the nuns pass their time with icon painting, the cultivation of flowers and herbs, and the production of honey.

Kourion was an important city-kingdom in antiquity and stands as one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus. Its theatre – located on the southern end of the abrupt hill on which the city is built – is of great significance.

The theatre was constructed at the end of the 2nd century BC, but took its current dimensions during the 2nd century AD. Consisting of a semicircular orchestra that is surrounded by seats of the cavea (subterranean cells), it was enclosed to the south by the building of the scaenae frons (façade) that must have reached the height of the cavea, though today only the foundations remain.

On either side of the stage were two vaulted parodoi (corridors) from where the audience entered the theatre. The theatre could seat up to 3,500 spectators.

In the beginning of the 3rd century AD modifications were made, and the theatre was transformed into an arena that was used for fights with wild animals. At the end of the 3rd century AD, the arena spectacles declined and the theatre reassumed its proper purpose.

Excavations began in 1933, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, whilst many other University Archaeological Missions – as well as the Cyprus Department of Antiquities – continued the excavations.

Today, it is the scene of many cultural activities and theatrical performances, especially during the summer season.

Archaeological Site of Kourion – Audio Guide

Apollon Hylates, God of the Woodland, was the protector of Kourion and it is believed that he was worshipped at the site from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. His sanctuary was an important religious centre and underwent many extensions and alterations in different periods.

Originally, the site consisted of a temple (traces of which survive in the foundations of the present temple), a circular monument, and a formalized Archaic Altar and Precinct. During the Roman period the site was extended with the addition of the south and north buildings, which may have been used for the display of votives or the accommodation of visitors. Terracotta figurines and pottery that were accumulated in the temple from the 5th century BC to the Roman period were buried in the votive pit.

The majority of the monuments – as they can be seen today – belong to the site’s 1st century AD restorations, and consist of Apollo’s temple (which has been partly restored), pilgrim halls, the ‘palaistra’ (where athletes exercised and played games), a bath complex, and a holy precinct.

Built in 1879 by architect Friar Francesco da Monghidoro from Bologna, the church follows the architectural style for similar buildings of that period throughout Europe. The Friar used an interior baroque style, whilst opting for an eclectic design on the exterior facade. The walls on the apse and its vault are decorated with neo-Byzantine frescoes, which were repainted during renovations in 1979.

Lemesos (Limassol) Medieval Castle is situated in the heart of the old town, just above the old harbour. According to tradition, this is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. The fortified walls are of considerable archaeological interest and thought to be fragments of a much larger castle.

The exact date of the fort’s construction is not known; according to Etienne de Lusignan, it was built in 1193 by the founder of the Lusignan dynasty, Guy de Lusignan, but the first official reference to the fort dates to 1228, during the involvement of Frederic II of Germany in the affairs of Cyprus.

Throughout the years, the fort suffered the assaults of many invaders, sustaining further damage in the earthquakes of 1567 and 1568. Finally, in 1590, the Ottomans rebuilt the fort in its current form. The original fort was larger than the later one, which incorporates some parts of the former building, such as the two oblong halls of the ground floor. Below the eastern hall there is a basement with cells, which was used as a prison until 1950. Today, the fort houses the Medieval Museum of Cyprus.

Kourion was an important city-kingdom in antiquity and stands as one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus, where well-preserved mosaics decorate the floors of its stately villas.

The Baths and the House of Eustolios

Located east of the theatre is the House of Eustolios, which probably dates to the early 5th century AD, and takes its name from an inscription citing Eustolios as the builder. A mosaic with a welcoming inscription graces the antechamber of the entrance, whilst there are mosaic decorations in three of the porticoes and a bath complex to the north.

The house is believed to have been originally built as a residence and was probably opened to the public after the construction of the baths and the addition of the mosaic floors.

House of Gladiators

One of the most notable villas, which dates back to the second half of the 3rd century AD, is the House of Gladiators. It takes its name from a series of mosaics near its main courtyard representing gladiatorial combats.

The central part of the house was an atrium. Entrance was through a stairway on the northeast corner which opened onto another, smaller atrium joined to the central one by a corridor. The southern part of the building was destroyed, probably due to earthquakes in the 4th century AD. To the east of the corridor is a typical bath complex.

House of Achilles

Consisting of an open courtyard with rooms on two sides and a portico, the 4th century AD House of Achilles takes its name from the mosaic of the legendary Greek hero. The residence was most likely used to receive official guests, whilst the house has other mosaic floors.

Archaeological Site of Kourion – Audio Guide