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The residence that developed into one of the Limassol's landmark hotels in the 21st century!

02/09/2019
* NOTE: All the tributes of All About Limassol (as the Official Guide of Limassol) aim to ONLY highlight the special advantages of this wonderful city, so that everyone can be aware of the unique Experiences it offers. Under no circumstances do they have any promotional or nominal value, nor do they serve the interests of Companies, Municipalities, Organizations or Individuals.

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Architecture

Though originally built as a residence, this property developed into one of the first hotels in the city. The 2-storey mansion that stands today at the beginning of the historic St. Andrew's Street was erected in the second decade of the 20th century, by Theodoros Chrysostomides. Since then, this impressive building remains a reference point, focusing on hospitality daily.

For most, the home of Galatia Chrysostomides (who later became the wife of Nicosia Mayor G.A. Markides) is known as the ‘Hellas’ Hotel. Its location is symbolic, one would say, as it seems to be at the border of the old Greek Cypriot quarter in the historic center of Limassol, just a few steps away from Ankara Street - the main street of the Turkish Cypriot district. Originally, however, its upper floor was intended as a private residence, while the ground floor was utilized as shops.

The tradition Hotel ‘Hellas’, a landmark of an area with a particular architectural character, was a common hotel, but managed to stand out with its imposing image, elaborate decoration, arched windows, elliptical balconies and symmetrical distribution of doors and windows. Despite the deterioration throughout its several decades of existence, it has continued to maintain its glamour, unchanged even in the most recent years of its operation as a hotel.

During the bi-communal riots of 1963 - 1964 the hotel was used as a military outpost due to its proximity to the Turkish Cypriot district of Limassol.

In the second decade of the 21st century, 100 years after its erection, the time came to renovate and transform the property into a place that attracts people every day. Kinnis Group of Companies bought the perennial building from its elderly owner, Emilia Philippou, to renovate it and use it in various ways.

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The stunning transformation of the building after its renovation, brought it to the center of attention once again, as an organic part of Limassol's historical center. The building’s ground floor was turned into shops and restaurants, and the upper floor into office space for the company.

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Apart from the elegant balconies, the arches and the roof and walls decorations that can be admored by anyone passing by the building, its courtyard, that is still open for the public, is a space that preserves a taste of the yester years of Limassol.

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Particularly impressive is its large inner courtyard, with direct access from the Zik Zak pedestrian street, where the fountain still preserved was once used for watering horses.

Information: 'Anadromi mnimis' by Tasos Andreou, Kinnis Group

* NOTE: The tributes of the Project "History of Limassol" present information that has emerged from historical research thus far. Any new data is embedded into the tributes, once it has been confirmed.