On the Westside of Limassol, a short distance from the ancient kingdom of Kourion, an impressive sanctuary, dedicated to Apollo Hylates is located. This nickname states that the ancient god of beauty and music, used to be worshiped as the protector of forests in this area.
Indeed, the place that was considered from antiquity as one of the main religious centers of ancient Cyprus, is located in an area with a lot of wild and bushy vegetation, which would have probably been even more dense and lush at that time.
To this day, one can feel the distinct burden of the sanctuary, through its ruins.
The entrance to the temple was possible through 2 gates, Kourion and Paphos. The main Holy Road leads to the main temple, whilst being surrounded by a large enclosure. Remains of a circular monument have been discovered there, where it is believed to be used for dances processions, as well as Roman baths and palaestras.
The end of the 4th century, marked the decline and the abandonment of the sanctuary, mainly due to the catastrophic earthquakes hitting the island at the time, but also due to the predominance of Christian religion.
0.52 km
0.52 km
2.53 km
3.18 km
4.18 km
4.59 km
5.13 km
9.92 km
