CyprusVista

Limassol may be baking in heat this week, but a few residents of this popular Cyprus holiday destination will be right in their element! The Municipal Gardens in Limassol are one of the great secrets of the resort, two acres of formal gardens with a mini-zoo that kids will enjoy. As zoos go, it’s fair to say it’s more an aviary with added extras, but when the extras are a zebra and some cheetahs, no young animal fans is going to be disappointed. Add in an ice-cream in the cool shade of the trees overlooking the sea, and you have a lovely pleasant family morning excursion in Cyprus without needing a car.

In September, you should definitely leave the car behind, as the garden play host to the annual Limassol September Wine Festival. Cyprus wine is surprisingly good; after all, they have been growing grapes here for centuries. You can also sample Cypriot wines all year round at the four main wineries on Franklin Roosevelt street, or hire a taxi and visit to the vineyards on the peninsula beyond Paphos, for a day out with a difference.

For a short excursion from Limassol, the whole family will enjoy exploring the ancient Cyprus city of Kourion. If you don’t want to hire a car, you can catch a bus to this vast site from just outside Limassol Castle, which takes you direct to the ruins. This important ancient town was abandoned after a devastating earthquake in 365AD, but you can still imagine gladiators, senators and merchant wandering around the Roman villas, baths, agora (marketplace), and watching plays in the impressive theatre.

Just a few kilometres west of the Kourion, past the ruins of the Stadium, is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. The strange channels cut into the rock are not water channels, but early planters, originally filled with shrubs and trees to honour the woodland god.

And, of course, if the kids get restless with all this history stuff, there’s always Curium Beach just south of the ruins at Kourium, complete with a couple of tavernas.

The ancient city of Kourium, Cyprus. Photo by Jungle_Boy at flickr.com

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