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Limassol
or (Neapolis, Nemesos, Limassol & Lemesos) are just
a few of the names given to Limassol. Limassol is the second
largest town on the island, with a population of 161.000
(end of 2001). Located south, and situated between the two
ancient towns of Amathus and Curium. As well as already
being an established tourist resort, Limassol is also is
where you'd find the island's main commercial port.
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Limassol
was probably built after Amathus had been ruined. However,
the town of Limassol was inhabited since ancient times. Graves
found there date back to 2.000 B.C. and others date back to
the 8th and 4th century B.C. This evidence shows that a small
settlement must have existed which did not manage to develop
and flourish. The foundation of Limassol is attributed to
the bishops of Theodossiani, Amathus and Arsinoe, according
to the Synod of 451 A.D.
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history of Lemesos (Limassol) is largely known by the events
of 1191 A.D. that put an end to the Byzantine dominion of
Cyprus. |
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The
king of England, Richard the Lionheart, was travelling to
the Holy Land in 1191. His fiancée Berengaria and
his sister loanna, (Queen of Sicily), were also travelling
on a different ship. Because of a storm, the ship with the
queens took refuge in Lemesos (Limassol). Isaac Comnenus,
the Byzantine governor of Cyprus,did not allow them to get
off the ship and did not even help them. Richard on arrival
in Lemesos (Limassol) requested from Isaac Comnenus to contribute
towards the crusade for the liberation of the Holy Land.
While at the beginning Isaac had accepted, he later on went
back on his word and refused any assistance. |
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Richard
the Lionheart felt insulted by the these two incidents. He
fought against Comnenus and defeated him. Cyprus was therefore
taken over by the English, and Richard celebrated his marriage
with Berengaria in Cyprus. So, the Byzantine dominion in Cyprus
came to an end.
Richard destroyed Amathus and the inhabitants were transferred
to Lemesos (Limassol). A year later, in 1192 A.D. Cyprus was
sold to the Templar Knights. The knights enforced high taxes
to cover the money paid to Richard the Lionheart for the purchase
of Cyprus. This led to revolt by the Cypriots. They demanded
from Richard to retract from the agreement to sell Cyprus
to the Templar Knights. Richard accepted their request, and
sold the island to Guy de Lusignan, the King of Jerusalem.
Cyprus was therefore handed over to the Frankish Dynasty of
the Lusignan kings of the medieval Cypriot kingdom.
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The
English King Richard the Lionheart destroyed Amathus
in 1191A.D. |
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For
a period of about three centuries 1192-1489, Lemesos (Limassol)
enjoyed a remarkable prosperity. This lasted until the occupation
of Cyprus by the Ottoman Turks in 1571 A.D. |
The settling down of merchants in Cyprus and particularly
in Lemesos (Limassol) in the 13th century led to the financial
welfare of its inhabitants. Its harbour as a centre of transportation
and commerce, contributed greatly to the financial and cultural
development. Cyprus
and Lemesos (Limassol) faced a general decline during the
years of the Ottmans rule.
The British took over in Cyprus in 1878. The first British
governor of Lemesos (Limassol) was Colonel Warren. He showed
a particular interest in Lemesos (Limassol), and an improvement
was visible from the early days of his governorship.
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roads were cleaned and fixed, trees were planted and docks
were constructed for the loading and unloading of ships. Lanterns
for the lighting of the central areas were also installed
in the I880. In 1912, electricity finally replaced the old
lanterns. |
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The
British introduced a post office, a telegraph office and
a hospital to Limassol. The first printing press was introduced
in 1880 and it was used by newspapers «Alithia»
and «Anagennisis» when published in 1897.
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very first hotels began to operate at the end of the
19th century. Among these were «Europe»
and «Amathus». The changes introduced
by the British contributed in developing an intellectual
and artistic life. The first signs of Schools, theatres,
clubs, art galleries, music halls, sport societies,
football clubs etc. were seen in Lemesos (Limassol).
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The
population of Lemesos (Limassol) rose rapidly during
the late 19th and 20th centuries (1878-1960) and in
excess of 700%. The number of inhabitants from 6.131
in 1881, had risen to 43.593 in 1960. The number of
the Greek population was estimated at 37.478, while
the Turkish population at 6.115.
In 1974 after the Turkish invasion, most Turkish-Cypriot
inhabitants of Lemesos (Limassol) were transferred
to the occupied northern part of Cyprus, and many
thousands Greek-Cypriot refugees from the North settled
down in Lemesos (Limassol). These events played a
major part in developing the town into the main tourist
resort of Cyprus.
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the most important tourist areas of Cyprus were occupied
by the Turkish troops in 1974 and the tourist infrastructure
was destroyed, Lemesos (Limassol) rapidly expanded.
Hotels, restaurants and numerous places of entertainment
were built, and soon after Lemesos (Limassol) became
a centre of commerce |
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