The resort of Limassol is located on the southern coast of Cyprus, on the shores of Akrotiri Bay. It is the second largest city in the island state. Many tourists cite Limassol's location as the most convenient, as it takes about an hour to reach the most significant sights of Cyprus.
The population of Limassol is about 235 thousand people. Most of them are native Greek Cypriots.
The national currency is the euro (EUR).
The exact date of the city's foundation is unknown. Historians believe that Limassol was founded around IV century BC and at that time was called Neopolis. The turning point in the history of the modern resort was 1191, when the city was captured by crusaders led by the legendary King Richard the Lionheart. The monarch traveled to Cyprus to free his bride and sister, who had been captured by a local rich man after a shipwreck. Richard proclaimed himself king of the island, and Neopolis was renamed Limassol and began to boom.
At the time of Templar rule, a seaport was built here, and Limassol became one of the most important trade centers of Europe. But after the Turks took over, the economy and infrastructure of the city fell into complete disrepair. The revival of Limassol began only with the beginning of the British protectorate. The British restored the city to its former glory as a trading center of Cyprus and made it a center of winemaking.
