Limassol
Limassol, Λεμεσός | |
|---|---|
| File:Esplanada-lemesos.jpg | |
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| District | Limassol |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andreas Christou |
| Population (2001 - 2005) | |
• City | 94,250 |
| • Urban | 179,900 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| Website | www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy |
Limassol (Greek: Λεμεσός, Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol, alt. Leymosun) is the second-largest city of Cyprus, with a population of 176,900 (2005), the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality of the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.
It is the biggest port in the Mediterranean transit trade. Limassol has since then become one of the most important tourism, trade and service-providing centre in the area. Limassol is renowned for its long cultural tradition. A wide spectrum of activities and a great number of museums and archaeological sites are available to the interested visitor.
Limassol was built between two ancient cities, Amathus and Kourion, so during Byzantine rule it was known as Neapolis (new town). Limassol's tourist strip now runs east along the coast as far as Amathus. To the west of the city is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area of the United Kingdom.
Limassol also attracts a wide range of tourists mostly during the summer season to be accommodated in its several luxurious hotels and apartments. Limassol is also home to the Cyprus University of Technology.
In addition to the existing sights and attractions, a world class marina is currently being built, that will offer a wide range of services and attractions unsurpassed anywhere in Cyprus. The project will be called Limassol Marina and will consist of 1000 berths for small and larger yachts and the whole operation will be managed and operated by high-quality, experienced operators.
History
The christian crusades tried to conquer the city of Kudüs (Jeruselam). They first captured the island of Cyprus. After crusades defeated by the eastern Muslim armies, they withdraw from the east and return to the Europe. After the end of Crusades attacks to the Eastern world, SPANIANS RETURNED TO SPANIA, ITALIANS RETURNED TO ITALIA, FRENCHS RETURNED TO FRANCE, ETC. But some of these greevy people (namely, Greeks) - who are in the seek of capturing prosperity of the east - did not leave the east completely. Consequently, the existence of a European race (Greeks) in the Cyprus island comes from these residuals, namely Greeks (a European race) in an Asia island (Cyprus) are the residuals of the crusades. There is no reason for Greeks for staying in an Asian (Eastern World) island, Cyprus. There have been lots of time that Crusades wars ended. Hence, Greeks in the Cyprus must return to Greece without any delay. Native Cypriots don't want any greedy greek in the Cyprus island.
Ottoman Turks (an eastern race) conquered the half of the island in 1570. In 1571, Turks conquered the island completely. Hence, the Asiaic Cyprus island became again home to the Asiaic race (Turks). During Ottoman Turks-Russia war, Turks left only the administration of Cyprus to the British Empire. In 1914, by the conflicting atmosphere of WW1, British Empire declared illegally that the Cyprus island is a Crown colony , opposite to the 1878 agreement between Turks and Britons.
Limassol was the scene of extreme violence in the period just prior to Cypriot independence in 1960. Since the Greek supported coup and etnically tried cleansing of Turks, Turkey acted in 1974.
Government
The first marxist groups in Cyprus formed in Limassol in the early 1920s. In 1926 the Communist party of Cyprus was formed in the city. Its successor AKEL dominated municipal elections, since the first free elections in 1943 won by Ploutis Servas.
The current Mayor of the municipality is Andreas Christou - AKEL member as well - and he was elected Mayor of Limassol in December 2006 to serve a five year term.
Economy
The development of tourism in Limassol began after 1974 when the Turkish invaders occupied Famagusta and Kyrenia, the basic tourist areas of Cyprus. Limassol has some very good beaches, rich in sand and suitable for sunbathing and swimming. A bathing beach with all the necessary facilities, provided by the «Cyprus Tourism Organisation» (CTO), is operating in the town of Limassol, in «Dasoudi» area.
Limassol became the major sea port of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974. Before 1974, that role had been filled by Famagusta which is now located in the Turkish controlled part of the island).
Limmasol is the base for many of the island's wine companies, serving the wine-growing regions on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains (of which the most famous is Commandaria). The most important ones are KEO, LOEL, SODAP and ETKO. The wines and cognacs (brandies) that are produced by the grapes that grow in the countryside, are of excellent quality. They have won several awards in international exhibitions. There is a considerable consumption of wine products in Cyprus by the locals and the foreign visitors. Big quantities are exported to Europe.
The town of Limassol is the biggest industrial centre of the province. There are about 350 industrial units with 90 industry wares. These industries concern dressmaking, furniture, shoes, drinks, food, prints, metal industry, electric devices, plastic wares as well as many other different industries.
Limassol is an important trade centre of Cyprus. This is due to the presence of the UK sovereign base at Episkopi and Akrotiri, and to the displacement of the population in Limassol after the Turkish invasion in 1974. The trade markets are gathered in the center of the town and in the tourist area along the coast that begins from the old harbor and ends in Amathus area. Most of the hotels, restaurants, confectioneries, discos and places of entertainment in general, are to be found in this area.
Limassol has two ports, commonly referred to as the "old port" and the "new port". The new port has the greatest commercial and passenger flow of traffic and it is the biggest port in the free part of Cyprus. The old harbour has a breakwater 250 metres long and it is only able to receive three small ships at a time. It is thus normally used by fishing boats. The new harbour is eleven metres deep and has break-waters that are 1300 metres long. It is able to receive about ten ships depending on their size. Exports of grapes, wines, carobs, citrus fruits and imports of cereals, vehicles, machines, textiles, agricultural medicines, fertilizers, iron etc. are exported and imported through these ports.
Demographics
Internal migration since the 1960s and influx of displaced persons after 1974 significantly increased the population of Limassol and its suburbs. Greater Limassol today includes the municipality of Limassol (includes the suburb of Agia Fyla) and the municipalities of Polemidhia, Mesa Geitonia, Agios Athanasios and Germasogeia.
Limassol traditionally had a mixed population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The majority of Turkish Cypriots moved to the north in 1974. Accordingly, many Greek Cypriots who became refugees after they had fled from the north of Cyprus settled down in Limassol. During the 1990s several Cypriot Roma (people) (considered Turkish Cypriots according to the constitution) returned from the North of the island to the Turkish quarter of Limassol.
Limassol is also where the island's small Jewish population is based, with the island's only synagogue.
The rise of the population birth rate during the late 19th and 20th c. (1878-1960) was 70%. The number of inhabitants was 6.131 in 1881, while in 1960 the number had risen to 43.593. The number of the Greek population was estimated at 37.478, while the Turkish population at 6.115.
Landmarks
- The medieval castle is one of the nine castles of Cyprus (the others are at Kolossi, Larnaca and Paphos now in the Republic of Cyprus controlled area, and Famagusta, Kantara, Buffavento, St. Hilarion and Kyrenia now within the de facto but internationally unrecognised state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). It was built by the Byzantines around 1000 AD. Around the same period, a chapel was also built there. Richard the Lionheart is supposed to have married his fiancée Princess Berengaria of Navarre on this site after her ship was grounded nearby in 1191 as she accompanied him to the Third Crusade, on his way to Holy Land. The Castle was used as a prison, between 1790-1940.
- The medieval castle of Limassol now serves as a medieval museum. The collection that the museum provides covers the era of 400 - 1870 A.D. A visitor can see numerous exhibits: cannons, wood carvings of the 17th and 18th century, paintings and tombstones, statues, suits of armor, coins, terracotta, metalware and pottery, glass and marble articrafts.
- The Archaeological Museum provides a very interesting collection of antiquities found in the district of Limassol, dating from the Neolithic Age to the Roman period. Some of the archaeological discoveries are:
Stone axes of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic period, potteries and objects of the ancient cities of Curium and Amathus, as well as Roman terra cottas, gold jewellery, coins, sculptures, columns, vases, earrings, rings, necklaces, marble statues etc.
- The Folk Art Museum is beautifully preserved old house which provides a very interesting collection of Cypriot Folk Art of the last two centuries. Some of the most fascinating objects of the collection are: national costumes, tapestry, embroidery, wooden chests, waistcoats, men’s jackets, necklaces, a variety of light clothes, town costumes, country tools etc.
The museum was established in 1985. More than 500 exhibits are housed in its six rooms. The museum was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 1989. Here, the visitor can study Cypriot culture through the hand-made exhibits.
- Public Garden is situated on the coastal road. It provides a great variety of vegetation: eucalyptus trees, pine trees and cypresses. In this beautiful environment the citizens of Limassol and many visitors can walk around and enjoy themselves. Inside the garden, there is a small zoo. There, the visitor can see deer, moufflons, ostriches, pheasants, tigers, lions, monkeys, vultures, pelicans and other animals and different kinds of birds.Not far from the zoo there is the small natural history museum and the garden theatre that is reconstructed to host famous international groups.
- A series of public sculptures commissioned by the Limassol Municipality, can be found on the reclamation (now Twin Cities park), spanning one mile (1.6 km) of Seafront reclaimed land. The sculptues were created by Costas Dikefalos, Thodoros Papayiannis, Yiorgos Tsaras, Vassilis Vassili, Christos Riganas, Kyriakos Rokos, Manolis Tsombanakis and Yiorgos Houliaras from Greece, Kyriakos Kallis, Nikos Kouroussis, Helene Black and Maria Kyprianou from Cyprus, Saadia Bahat from Israel, Victor Bonato from Germany and Ahmet El-Stoahy from Egypt
- The Limassol Marina project will soon be under construction and it will create a world class marina, which will be environmentally friendly, with a wide range of services and attractions unsurpassed anywhere in Cyprus. These will include quality waterside residential and commercial developments, lifestyle attributes such as recreation centers, restaurants, clubs, entertainment, sports, bicycle and walking paths and even a traditional church. Over 1000 berths will be available for small and larger yachts and the whole operation will be managed and operated by quality and experienced operators. Limassol Marina
Festivals
Limassol is famous in Cyprus for its festivals, like the Carnival and Wine Festival. The Limassol Carnival festival lasts for ten (10) days, with jolly and amusing masquerading. This custom is very old, going back to pagan rituals. With the passage of time it has acquired a different, purely entertaining character, with a large, popular following. The festival starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival, followed by a fancy-dress competition for children. During the Carnival parade in the main streets, large crowds from all over the island gather to watch the floats with the serenade and other masqueraded groups. Many fancy-dress balls and parties take place at many hotels every night.
During the first quarter of September, the great Wine Festival of Cyprus takes place in the Municipal Garden of Lemesos (Limassol), every evening between 8.00 hrs - 23.00 hrs. During the festival the visitor has the chance to taste some of the best Cyprus wines, which are offered free of charge. On some evenings, various groups from Cyprus and abroad perform folk dancing and there are also choirs and others.
Other festivals are Flower Festival (May), Festival of the Flood (June), Shakespearean nights and Ancient Greek Drama Festival.
In 2008, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Limassol.
Sports
AEL FC and Apollon Limassol are the two major sport clubs in Limassol, which have football, basketball and volleyball teams. AEL has the records of the most trophies in totally all the sports together. In basketball, Apollon and AEL are very powerful teams. AEL dominates the Cypriot basketball, while it has the record of the most time champions. They were the Cyprus Champions for five concecutive years (the last five years). In football, both teams Apollon and AEL play in First Division. Aris Limassol is another football team which plays in First Division and like AEL is one of the founding teams of the Cyprus Football Association (KOP). AEL women volleyball teams is the permanent champion of Cyprus. There are also teams in athletics, bowling, cycling and other sports.
The football stadium of Limassol is Tsirion, with capacity of 16 000, which hosts the three football teams of Limassol and in the past it hosted Cyprus national football team. It was used also for athletics. There are various other stadiums for other sports in Limassol. The Apollon Limassol basketball stadium, hosted the 2003 FIBA Europe South Regional Challenge Cup Final Four. The two basketball teams of Limassol participated and AEL became the first Cypriot sport team to win a European Trophy. In 2006, Limassol hosted the FIBA Europe All Star Game in Spyros Kiprianou Sports Centre, as it had the year before.
Also, in Limassol and around, is hosted the Cyprus Rally for World Rally Championship.
There is a professional handball team, APEN Agiou Athanasiou.
Twinned Cities
Nanjing, PR China
Alexandria, Egypt
Marseille, France
Niederkassel, Germany
Ioannina, Greece- Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Patra, Greece
- Rhodes, Greece
- Thessaloniki, Greece
- Zakynthos, Greece
Haifa, Israel- Tel Aviv, Israel
Dals-Ed, Sweden
Famous people
- Adamos Adamou, Member of European Parliament
- Marcos Baghdatis, tennis player
- Michael Cacoyannis, film director
- Constantinos Christoforou, singer
- İsmet Güney, painter
- Spyros Kyprianou, former president
- Markos Kyprianou politician
- Sotiris Moustakas, actor
- Ioannis Phrangoudis, Olympic medalist
- Marios Tokas, composer.
- Petros Tsiros, philanthropist and humanitarian
- Theo Paphitis, entrepreneur
- Evridiki Theokleous, singer
.
See also
References
External links
- Official site of Limassol Municipality
- Website about the new world class marina being built in Limassol
Other uses
Limassol is also the title of a song by Maxïmo Park from the album A Certain Trigger.
