Newsroom
Limassol Municipality has begun preparations to mark 150 years since its establishment, with the main anniversary celebrations expected to take place in July 2028.
The municipality is currently examining proposals for a programme of events that will commemorate the milestone and trace the development of Limassol from the late 19th century to the present day.
The plans remain at an early stage and no final programme has yet been announced. However, initial planning is understood to envisage the launch of anniversary activities during 2027, followed by a series of events leading up to the 150th anniversary in July 2028.
The occasion will provide an opportunity to revisit the city's municipal history and the major changes Limassol has experienced over the past 150 years.
A municipality born in 1878
Limassol's municipal history dates back to 1878, following the transition of Cyprus from Ottoman to British administration.
Christodoulos Karydis, a merchant and shipping agent, became the city's first mayor. He was elected by acclamation by Limassol's residents and is regarded as the first Greek Cypriot to serve as a mayor in Cyprus. Karydis remained in office until 1885.
The municipality's first headquarters were located in a rented two-storey house on Agiou Andreou Street. The priorities facing the new municipal authority were largely practical, reflecting the conditions of the city at the time.
Street cleanliness was among its principal responsibilities, along with efforts to keep animals out of the city centre and early projects aimed at improving the appearance of Limassol.
From small port city to modern centre
The Limassol of 1878 bore little resemblance to today's city. Over the following century and a half, changes in the economy, society and urban landscape transformed Limassol significantly.
The 150th anniversary programme is expected to draw on that history, presenting the city's development alongside the evolution of its municipal administration.
Discussions on the content of the celebrations are already underway, with further details expected to emerge as the municipality develops the programme. The events will culminate in July 2028, marking a century and a half since Limassol Municipality was established.
