Wine Attractions

The Commandaria Museum in Silikou celebrates one of Cyprus’s oldest and most famous sweet wines. Set in the historic village of Silikou in the Limassol district (around 650 m altitude), the museum explains how Commandaria grapes were grown, sun‑dried and vinified using the stone-built cellars and presses that shaped the region’s winemaking traditions. The site is also known as the “Commandaria and Oil Museum,” because it also displays traditional olive‑oil equipment and household items that show how local families worked the land. Silikou village sits in the Commandaria zone and has a long winemaking heritage going back to the medieval Lusignan period. The museum uses authentic tools, presses, vats and photographs to trace local methods of production, including the drying of grapes and the traditional distillation of zivania. What you’ll see and do Displays of traditional wine‑making equipment: stone presses, vats, tools and storage rooms Exhibits on the sun‑drying process for Commandaria grapes and on local viticulture practices Interpretation panels on Commandaria’s history in the region and the village’s role on the Commandaria route Visitor tips Contact the village or local hosts before you go to confirm opening hours and whether tastings or guided visits are available. Small local museums […]

The Omodos Wine Press, also known as Linos tou Charilaou, is a remarkably well‑preserved medieval wine press tucked away in the cobbled streets of Omodos, a wine‑growing village in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. Just a short walk from the historic Timios Stavros Monastery, it occupies a small stone room that today serves as a tiny museum of traditional winemaking. Inside, visitors find vats, cauldrons, and tools that evoke centuries of rural life. According to accounts from the current owner, the site has been used for winemaking for roughly 700–800 years, making it one of the oldest surviving installations of its kind on the island. At the heart of the room is the spectacular press itself: an enormous double wooden beam that spans the space, ending in a massive wooden screw weighted by a heavy stone. In its working days, grapes were heaped into a large tray under the beam, then covered with sturdy planks. Two workers would turn the screw, raising the stone so that the beam dropped and squeezed the grapes with immense force. The juice ran into partially buried clay or stone vats, which were sealed to ferment and protect the must from spoilage. Although wineries in […]

The Cyprus Wine Museum in Erimi is a compact, well-presented museum that tells the island’s wine story across more than 5,500 years. The museum, founded by Anastasia Guy, is set in a traditional stone building on the old Limassol Paphos road and combines archaeological finds, historic jars and tools, photos, and audiovisual displays to explain grape growing, winemaking, storage, and drinking traditions in Cyprus. Visitors to the Cyprus Wine Museum can book guided tours, taste curated museum wines including Commandaria and local varieties, and join educational programmes for schools or hospitality students. The site also uses its stone courtyards for tastings and small events, making it a useful stop for travellers exploring the Kolossi and Kourion area.

The Commandaria Historical Museum is nestled in the picturesque village of Zoopiyi (Zoopigi), one of the 14 legendary Commandaria wine villages in the Limassol district, stands as a testament to Cyprus’s ancient winemaking heritage. Opening its doors in 2010, this architectural gem was designed by renowned Cypriot architect Yiannis Armeftis and his associates, earning recognition as an outstanding example of contemporary public architecture in Cyprus. The museum was brought to life through a collaborative effort between the Zoopiyi Community Council and was co-financed equally by national resources and the European Union’s Regional Development Fund. Its creation was inspired by the historic Zoopiyi Commandaria Winery, established in 1940 and still producing wine today, around which the museum’s narrative unfolds. Visitors embark on a captivating journey through Cyprus’s viticultural history, exploring four thoughtfully curated galleries that showcase the evolution of Commandaria, often called “the wine of kings and the king of wines”, from ancient times through the Roman era, Byzantine period, and Frankish rule. The exhibition features replicas of ancient Cypriot wine vessels, traditional winemaking equipment, and multimedia presentations that bring centuries of wine culture to life. The museum complex includes original Commandaria reservoirs constructed in 1940 with reinforced concrete and later […]