Our selection of photographs shows the appearance of Limassol in the 20th century. Let's take a look at how this seaside town has changed over the past century.
The so-called “street with arches” was located near the Limassol castle, now it is called Dimitri Mitropoulou street (starting from the citizen service center (CSP). During the era of Turkish rule, there was a bazaar here.
One of the oldest photographs of Limassol. Made, presumably, from the roof of the Limassol castle.
This is what Limassol looked like from a bird's eye view in 1946.
During the time of Turkish rule, 11 Turkish baths - hammams - were opened in Limassol. Now they are not in use, but the buildings have been preserved.
This 1900 photograph shows the Europe Hotel, which was in business for only a few years. Then this building housed a hospital, which operated until 1923, giving way to an almshouse. Since 1950, the building has housed an orphanage. It was demolished in 1993, and the area underneath was turned into the well-known municipal parking lot of the Enaerios area.
From the Enaerios area, the Limassol hospital moved to a building on Anexartisias Street, where the administration is located today. The photo shows the opening of the hospital. In 1950, construction began on a larger and more modern building for the hospital, known today as the “old hospital.” Since its opening coincided with the year of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, it was called Coronation Hospital until 1960.
This photograph shows the building of the Maria Rusu private clinic, which opened in the early 1930s. Maria Rusu was the first female doctor in Cyprus. She never took money for a visit, helping people for free. The clinic closed in 1938 when Rusu left for Europe.
The area around Limassol Castle until the 1980s. did not particularly attract visitors and tourists. The entire space was built up with small houses, warehouses and shops. The fact is that until 1974 there was a prison here, which was used for its intended purpose first by the Ottoman rulers, then by the colonial administration, and then by the young Cypriot state.
Kounnapias Square is part of the Limassol that we have lost. In its place, a second municipal market was built, today transformed into the ENA Theater. The square got its name from the southern jujube tree that grew right in the center.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, an unusual and very fashionable building for Cyprus, owned by the Whitfield family, was erected on the Limassol embankment. In 1920, the building was sold to the Metropolis of Kitia, from which it was leased by the Cypriot businessman Ioannidis. On his initiative, the Vienna Hotel was opened there, which in the 1930s went to another Cypriot millionaire, Christos Mylonas. He rebranded and opened the Continental Hotel in the building. Today this building can still be seen in Limassol, but its original appearance has been changed almost beyond recognition.
The construction of the municipal market in Limassol was conceived back in 1879, although the building for its needs was built only in 1917. In 1947, it acquired a form that lasted more than 70 years. Reopening after renovations in 2020, the market has become a trendy urban relaxation space.
The building that today houses the Cyprus University of Technology was originally built as a girls' school. It was erected in 1912.
The Ayia Napa Church on the Limassol embankment began to be built in 1891 according to the design of a Greek architect, and was consecrated at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1910, the old temple, which was located near the cathedral, was razed to the ground. Unfortunately, nothing can make up for this loss.
Before the British came to the island, Limassol did not have a promenade. Moreover, its need was not particularly felt by the residents. The houses were built following the example of the Middle East - with their thick walls facing the sea, creating the image of an impregnable fortress.
The warehouses of Theodosiou, located where the Thalassokoritso cafe operates today, remained a very characteristic Limassol landmark until 1995. Unfortunately, they were demolished, being perceived as an obstacle to the creation of a new image of a tourist resort city.
The house of Crystalia Pavlidi was built at the end of the 19th century and originally belonged to one of the wealthiest people in Cyprus at that time - the merchant M. Gavriilidis. In 1922, the house was given as a dowry to his only daughter, Crystalia, who married another famous entrepreneur of the time, Pavel Pavlidis.
This photo is from the 1960s. depicts a very popular vacation spot among tourists and city residents. In the background is the famous Castella establishment. Today this place is no less beloved by the public restaurant-bar La Isla.
Since 1930, the Limassol embankment, which by that time had existed for several decades, was divided into three parts for further improvement. In 1970, the architect Alexandros Dimitriou developed a plan for an embankment promenade, which was called "molos". Since its construction, it has been one of the most attractive places in the city.
At the end of the 40s of the last century, the ETKO winery was built on the outskirts of Limassol. It operated here until 1971. Today, the Olympic Residence residential complex stands on this site. In memory of the plant, a brick chimney was built in front of the high-rise buildings, which reminds of the history of this place.
Limassol is famous not only for its temples, but also for its mosques. "Jami Jedid" (Arabic for "new mosque") was built in 1825 opposite the Church of St. Antonia. The reason for the construction was a vow made by Limassol resident Haji Ibrahim Agha Koprulu. He promised that if he returned alive from the war, he would build a Muslim temple in his area.
Photo: allaboutlimassol.com, Andreas Christoforou.
This article was first published in the Cyprus Herald on May 23, 2022. Some information may be out of date.
