Kolossi village provided me with an interested yet laid back day. There was not much reflection to do, but still a lot of information to take in.

Kolossi Castle

Until learning about the history of the Kolossi Castle, it is not the most mind-blowing site to see. Sure, it is beautiful to look at, but there is not much distinction between itself and other castles. That was, until our lovely tour guide, Demitra told its story.

The Kolossi Castle was built in the 13th century, far before large castles were normal. The knights of Saint John showed their catholic influence through the architecture. The reason the castle was build was as a stronghold during the crusades against the Ottoman Empire. One of the more fascinating things I remember was the simple engineering of a drawbridge. The first thing that interests me about this is the timelessness of engineering. Even in the 13th century, people were trying to figure out the best was to optimize defense. The drawbridge was a genius but simple idea that prevented intruders. A key takeaway from this is that sometimes simplifying things is most effective.

Kourion Beach

Even though our trip to Kourion Beach was not meant to be educational, I still learned about the importance of teamwork. After eating lunch, everyone gathered at the beach. All of the guys were joking around and taking pictures. Even if we did not hang out all the time, we still found joy in each others company. After this trip, I have felt our bonds grow stronger, which is a very important life lesson.

Limassol Castle

Sitting in the heart of old town Limassol, the Limassol Castle of the Knights feels like it should be hard to miss. It is a large structure, but for some reason it fits into the landscape so well, I barely noticed it the first time. When pointed out by the tour guide, Demitra, I was shocked on how I missed the beautiful castle.

The meaning of this castle dates all the way back to the period of the Byzantines. They first build this castle for fortification, but after some modifications by the Ottomans, it was shrunk down and used as a prison. For a short period, a minaret was added and the castle was used as a mosque as well. Years later, it finds itself as a museum containing many historical objects, most notably two full suits of armor. This castle is very important to Cyprus it perfectly displays its history. Containing influence from the Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans, it is definitely a must-visit on a trip to Cyprus.