The medieval Limassol Castle ( el, Κάστρο Λεμεσού, tr, Limasol Kalesi) is situated near the old harbour in the heart of the historical centre of the city of
Limassol. The castle as it appears today is a structure rebuilt circa 1590 under the period of
Ottoman rule.
Overview
Archaeological investigation within the castle revealed that it was built over an Early Christian
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
(4–7th century CE) and a Middle
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...
monument (10th–11th century CE). Other finds beneath the Castle witness the existence of an important
church, possibly the city's first cathedral.
According to Etienne Lusignan, the original castle was erected by
Guy de Lusignan in 1193. The first official reference to the fort dates to 1228, during the involvement of Frederic II of Germany in the affairs of Cyprus. From its erection until the beginning of the 16th century, damages were caused by the continuous attacks of the town by the
Genoese
Genoese may refer to:
* a person from Genoa
* Genoese dialect, a dialect of the Ligurian language
* Republic of Genoa (–1805), a former state in Liguria
See also
* Genovese, a surname
* Genovesi, a surname
*
*
*
*
* Genova (disambiguati ...
and the
Mameluks as well as by earthquakes alternating with restorations and reconstructions.
In 1538 the
Ottomans captured Limassol and the castle. The Venetian governor of Cyprus, after recapturing the castle, decided to demolish it in order to avoid its possible seizure. This destruction was completed in 1567–68. After the
Ottoman acquisition of Cyprus in 1576, the remains or parts of the remains of the castle were incorporated in the new Ottoman fort, completed in 1590, which was considerably strengthened. The underground chamber and the first floor were transformed into prison cells and remained in use until 1950.
According to tradition, this is where
Richard the Lionheart married
Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191.
Gallery
File:Cyprus - Limassol castle 10.JPG, East facade
File:Limassol 01-2017 img15 Castle interior.jpg, Interior
File:Limassol 01-2017 img16 Castle interior.jpg, Interior
File:Ottomans conquering the Limassol Castle.png, A miniature painting Miniature painting may refer to:
* Miniature (illuminated manuscript), a small illustration used to decorate an illuminated manuscript
* Persian miniature, a small painting on paper in the Persian tradition, for a book or album
* Ottoman miniatu ...
depicting the landing of Ottoman soldiers in Limassol Castle during the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1570–71
File:Limassol Castle, ground plan 1918.jpg, Ground plan 1918
References
Castles in Cyprus
Buildings and structures in Limassol
Crusader castles
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