Southern Cyprus - Culture

Lounge in the sun or enjoy the rich heritage and abundance of cultural activities the island of Cyprus offers. Visitors to this magnificent island won't be disappointed for lack of adventure or unique sightseeing opportunities. Among other things, you can visit three Medieval Castles in Cyprus.

A 15th century castle, Kolossi Castle was built on the ruins of a 13th century fortress. It is located in the village of Kolossi, just west of the town of Lemesos. The Kolossi Castle belonged to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. It came under the control of the Knights Templar in the 14th century. To the east, the ruins of the original castle can still be found amidst several old sugarcane refineries. The castle features a very high square tower with three floors. There is a stone stairway in the centre of the ground floor leading up to the second and on to the third floors. The third floor housed the Commander and is separated into two sections by a long hallway. The castle also is located in the heart of wine country. The area produced and exported the traditional sweet wine of Cyprus. This wine became known as “Commandaria” which is now one of the oldest named wines in the world.

A third castle, Saranta Kolones (Forty Columns) is located just north of Pafos (Paphos). It is a Byzantine castle that takes its name from the large number of granite columns that were found on the site. The castle is believed to have been built at the end of the 7th century AD to protect the city from Arab raids. It was later updated and remodelled by the Lusignans. The castle features a thick wall with eight towers and a large moat. Access into the castle was by way of a wooden bridge spanning the moat. The castle features a square courtyard with a tower at each corner. The main entrance was on the east side through a fifth, horseshoe shaped tower. The castle was abandoned in 1223 after being destroyed by an earthquake. Ruins still remain, however.

Also nearby, Lemesos Fort is near the harbour in the old town of Lemesos. According to history, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre at this location. Here he crowned her Queen of England in 1191. The exact date of the Lemesos Fort's construction is unknown. After suffering damage from several historic battles, the fort was rebuilt in 1590 by the Ottomans. The original fort was larger than the current one. Some parts of the original fort are still featured including two long halls of the ground floor. The fort served as a prison until 1950 and some of the prison cells are still intact in the basement. The Medieval Museum of Cyprus is located in the fort and offers many artifacts from the region.

Each year, the Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus is held near the remains of the castle. This year, for example, Madama Butterfly (one of Giacomo Puccini's masterpieces and one of the most popular operas of all times) will be presented. this year at the Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus. The opera is produced and performed by the Lyric Theatre at the Pafos Medieval Castle. Madama Butterfly is the 10th production of the annual Pafos Aphrodite Festival. There will be subtitles both in English and in Greek.

We offer a great selection of luxury rental accommodation including houses, villas, cabins and apartments. Our rentals feature saunas, hot tubs, swimming pools and a top quality maid service for an additional fee.