Sotira Limassol (Lemesou)
Sotira Limassol is a village in the district of Limassol, Cyprus, located about 30 kilometers west of the homonymous capital, 45 kilometers from Paphos, 100 kilometers from Larnaca and 115 kilometers from Nicosia.
Being the second largest administrative area of the Limassol district (4,435 hectares) after Akrotiri Limassol, with a large part of it located in the British bases of the area, Sotiras Limassol is crossed by the brook Symvoulos, while its highest point is the top of the hill Rofesia (386 meters), which is a few kilometers northwest of the village. In addition, to the settlement belongs a part of the state forest of Episkopi Limassol.
In the wider area, cereals, horticultural plants, carob and olive trees are grown, and there are also many uncultivated areas that remain untouched, while the about 100 permanent residents of Sotiras Limassol respectfully adhere to every custom and tradition of their village.
Sotira Limassol was probably founded in Byzantine times, although there are no past references to the settlement, probably because it was very small. The name of the settlement, as in the case of the Sotira Famagusta, comes from the name of the Savior Christ (Sotiras in Greek), which is also justified by the existence of the Chryso-sotiras church, in honor of which a big festival is organized on 6 th of August every year. Also in the village there is the chapel of Agios Georgios (Saint George) Makrefta, the monastery of Agios Georgios Symvoulos, and the ruins of the church of Agios Athanasios.
South of the settlement of Sotira Limassol, the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylati, which falls within the wider archeological site of Kourion, can be found, while historical evidence suggests that the village was once part of this ancient kingdom. In close proximity, another important archaeological site with prehistoric settlements is also located, and more specifically the Teppes and Kaminoudakia sites.
In particular, in Teppes, the architectural remains of Neolithic II (4500 – 3900 BC) residences were found, and in Kaminoutkia, while fewer findings were excavated, nevertheless important architectural remains of early Bronze Age houses (2500 – 2075 BC) have been found, as well as carved tombs of the same chronology. These dwellings were destroyed by natural disasters. All show important innovations for their era. The ancestors of Sotira Limassol, as can be concluded from the vases and old tools, were farmers, hunters and skillful potters. Also, there was found a gold earring, which is considered one of the oldest to this day, witnessing again that new arts were developed at that time.
Finally, Sotira Limassol is famous for its rise, the Cypriot marriage pilaf, as well as for its chrysokouloures (type of pastry).