Kolossi Castle

Kolossi Castle is a square three-storey keep standing among citrus groves a short drive west of Limassol. The present tower was rebuilt in 1454 by the Knights Hospitaller, who held the surrounding estate, and it replaced earlier fortifications on the same spot. Its solid, plain form makes it one of the most recognisable medieval buildings on the island.

The castle is closely linked to wine. The Hospitaller estate here produced a sweet wine that became known as Commandaria, named for the order's local commandery. Commandaria is still made in the Troodos foothills today and is among the oldest named wines in the world. Inside the keep you can climb to the roof for views over the estate and the coastal plain.

What to see

The interior is sparse but atmospheric, with a large ground-floor hall, a spiral stair and the rooftop terrace. Beside the castle stands a vaulted building once used for processing sugar cane, a reminder that this was a working agricultural estate. Kolossi sits close to Ancient Kourion, so the two combine easily.

• The climb to the roof is via a narrow medieval staircase.
• It pairs naturally with Kourion and the medieval Limassol Castle in town.
• The estate name lives on in Commandaria wine from the Troodos villages.

Wear shoes with grip for the spiral stair, allow a short visit of under an hour, and combine it with Kourion for a half-day west of Limassol.