Are you looking for a cruise excursion for your Limassol port stop? Why not explore the history and take a wine tour in Cyprus?
We took the Iconic Cyprus : Apollo’s Temple, Kolossi Castle and Viticulture tour from our 7-day MSC cruise around the Mediterranean. It was a great tour and perfect for the short shore day we had in Cyprus. Payton loves Greek Mythology, and we love wine, so this tour really was made for us!
Iconic Cyprus : Apollo’s Temple, Kolossi Castle and Viticulture
Our first stop was the Temple of Apollo, the largest and most important religious centre on the island and which was in continuous use from the VIII century BC to the IV century AD. It really was fascinating and we were given ample time to walk around and explore.
The next stop was the nearby village of Kolossi to visit the castle left over from the time of the Crusaders in Cyprus. The XIII century Kolossi Castle is linked to the history of wine production on the island, in particular to the production of the local Commandaria wine.
The last stop before returning to port was the Cyprus wine museum where we learned about the 7500-year tradition of winemaking in Cyprus. One thing that we learned very quickly is that Commandaria wine is very strong and is an acquired taste (we didn’t enjoy it)!
Temple of Apollo, Hylates
The Kourion Archaeological Site was our first stop. This vast archeological site has many areas and points of interest.
The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates was discovered in the early 1800s, and it is believed to have been a Pan-Cyprian sanctuary originally. The current incarnation of the temple is from the Trajan era of roman rule, around AD 76/77. It is noted for being a place of worship continuously between 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.
Out of all the historical sites we have visited, this is one of the largest. It was fascinating to wander the grounds and imagine how grand and magnificent it would have been during its time. The design and architecture are so impressive. The columns that are still standing are amazing considering the time they were built. We were in awe during our time here.
Kolossi Castle
The medieval Kolossi Castle sits not far from the Kourion archeological site, a mere 14kms outside of Limassol. Built in the 13th century, it was once inhabited by the Knights Templar! The castle was attacked multiple times from 1373 to 1426 followed by subsequent earthquakes which left the castle in ruins. In 1454 the castle was rebuilt slightly smaller. You can still see the original footprint around the current castle.
The famous Commandaria wine was first produced by the Knights here, but more on that later!
We were given plenty of time to wander round the castle and climb the tower. As well as take in the fantastic views out towards the coast and over to Limassol.
Wine Tasting in Cyprus
The Commandaria wine of Cyprus is an acquired taste. This super sweet desert wine is made from the Xynisteri and Mavro grapes, which are left to mature on the vine until their sugar levels are optimal.
While this wine tradition dates back to 800BC, it isn’t for everyone. But it was fun finding out more about Cypriot wine history and getting to taste some for ourselves.
If you are interested in wine in particular, doing this tour, or a specialty wine tour in Cyprus is a must.
If you are limited on time, skip the video at the wine museum and get the history from one of the workers during the tasting. The facility is beautiful and fun to explore after the tasting.
The Tour – Practical Info
We rarely choose to take an excursion organised by the cruise ship. We usually prefer to tailor our tours or to explore on our own. However, for this port day, which was a short 8am – 3pm, we decided it was easier and safer to take the cruise tour. It turned out to be a great option. The stops were well-paced and we saw a good array of history and foodie culture in our short visit to Cyprus.
Most of the private tours were 8-12 hours long and on the opposite side of the island. While it would’ve been nice to see more of the island, we were able to maximize our time by taking the cruise tour.
Taking a cruise excursion in Cyprus
A little research about a destination will usually highlight what you might want to see in a port. By researching in advance, we were able to identify timings and activities that would work for us and the cruise. Then we book those excursions ahead of time. We knew we wanted to take a wine tour in Cyprus; but being able to add the history component in was great.
We would definitely recommend this tour if visiting Cyprus on the MSC Musica.
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