The Medieval Castle of Limassol (Lemesos) 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 under the Turkish domination in 19th century to the period of Ottoman rule.
| Limassol Castle | |
|---|---|
(Greek: Κάστρο Λεμεσού) | |
  Location within Cyprus | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Medieval |
| Town or city | De jure  Cyprus |
| Country | Cyprus |
Archaeological investigation within the castle revealed that it was built over an Early Christian basilica (4-7th century A.D.) and a Middle Byzantine monument (10th-11th century A.D.). Other finds beneath the Castle witness the existence of an important church, possibly the city's first cathedral. From its erection until the beginning of the 16th century, damages were caused by the continous attacks of the town by the Genoese and the Mameluks as well as by earthquakes alternating with restorations and reconstructions. In 1538 the Ottomans captured Lemesos 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 1567/8. 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 which was considerably strengthened. The underground chamber and the first floor were transformed into prison cells and remained in use until 1950.