Limassol Castle dates in its present form mainly to the 14th century, built by the Lusignan dynasty that ruled Cyprus for three centuries, though the site has been fortified since Byzantine times. The Venetians later strengthened it, and it served as a prison under British colonial rule. The exterior is unpretentious — a solid rectangular keep rather than a dramatic fortress — but the interior houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum, which is considerably more interesting than the building suggests.
The Medieval Museum contains an excellent collection of Byzantine and Frankish art, armour, pottery, and carved stone from across Cyprus. Particular highlights include the Byzantine silver plates found at Lambousa and a series of carved marble reliefs from the Lusignan period. The castle is centrally located and makes a natural starting point for a walk through the old town toward the Folk Art Museum and the area around Agiou Andreou Street.