AT THE HISTORICAL CENTER
Situated in the heart of the city’s historical center, the Limassol Castle was built in the 12th century over an Early Christian Basilica and a Middle Byzantine monument. The architectural phase visible today dates to the period of the Ottoman rule. It houses the Medieval Collection of the Cyprus Museum. Today the castle is one of the main sightseeing attractions in Limassol with the surrounding area offering countless options for dining and entertainment. .
FROM BYZANTINE TO THE TURKS
The fortress dates back to the Byzantine period. However, in 1373 it suffered greatly at the hands of Genoans and had to be restored in the 15th century in order to withstand attacks from the Egyptian Mamluks. Then the Venetians decided to completely destroy the castle and the Turks subsequently rebuilt it from scratch, «astutely» adding numerous cells for future prisoners, which were also in high demand with the arrival of the British (until 1950).
A BRITISH ROYAL WEDDING
Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus from Isaac Komnenos on his way to the Crusades in the Holy Land and on May 12, 1191 he married Berengaria of Navarre at Limassol Castle. This is possibly the only British royal wedding to take place abroad, outside of Great Britain. In October of 1993 Queen Elizabeth visited Limassol Castle and that was the first visit at the place as such by a reigning British monarch since 1191, when Richard the Lionheart was here!
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