GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Cyprus Pound (C£) = 100 cents.

Language

Greek.

Limassol is Cyprus's second largest city, and a major Mediterranean port. Its modern harbour is constantly being expanded to meet the demands of trade and passenger traffic. Limassol is also the centre of the wine industry in Cyprus; most of the vines used grow on the slopes of the Troodos Mountains. Limassol is Cyprus' main tourist centre, with facilities such as the public tourist beach at Dhassoudi, backed by many cafés. There is also a museum, public gardens with a small zoo and a castle originally built during the 12th century. There are many places of historic and archaeological interest in and around Limassol, including the House of Eustolios, in which there are some beautiful mosaics; the Sanctuary of Apollo Yletis; the Stadium; the Acropolis with the ruins of the Forum; the Christian Basilica and many public buildings. Also of interest is Amathus, 11km (seven miles) east of Limassol, once the capital of a city-kingdom, but now in ruins and partly covered by the sea. Further east lies the Ayios Georgios Alamanos nunnery and to the west is Kolossi Castle, headquarters of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. Curium has a superb Graeco-Roman theatre where concerts and Shakespeare's plays are performed in summer. To the south of the town is the Lady's Mile Beach and Akrotiri Salt Lake, winter home of thousands of flamingoes. Limassol is also a good starting point for an excursion into the beautiful Troodos Mountains.

See Larnaca. Lefkara lace is also a good buy and is famous throughout the world as one of the products most closely associated with Cypriot workmanship; the name originates from the village Lefkara, situated on a hill on the Nicosia-Limassol road.

See Larnaca. Visitors may be lucky enough to be in Cyprus for the highlight of the wine year – the annual wine festival, which is usually held in September, with free wine flowing and local food on offer. The festival is just one of many celebrated throughout the year in Limassol.

Europe and MediterraneanCyprus

Cyprus