Many centuries ago, on the site of modern Limassol stood the ancient city of Kourion, whose patron was the god Hylates. People believed that it was on the favor of this god that the fertility of the soil, abundant rains, and many animals for hunting depended. Having adopted a common pantheon of gods, the people of Kourion began to identify their Hylates with Apollo, but added to his name, "of Hylates," to show belonging to their hometown.

Apollo was as much revered in the area as Aphrodite, in whose honor was the magnificent temple situated in Paphos.

To honor their patron and to offer him gifts, the inhabitants of ancient Kourion built a large Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates in their city. This happened, according to archaeologists, around the 7th century BC. Unfortunately, due to earthquakes, the temple was often destroyed. It was restored, strengthened, rebuilt, making it more resistant to the vagaries of nature. Ancient people considered every destruction as the manifestation of the anger of the gods, so they tried to make the next temple better, more beautiful, and more reliable than the previous one. Those picturesque ruins that have survived to this day belong to the first century AD.

Even now, despite the fact that the temple is badly destroyed, you can see its greatness. It was an entire complex dedicated to Apollo. In addition to the main temple, of which several columns, walls, and fragments of the stairs to the altar have been preserved, there were several religious halls, baths, and halls-hostels for pilgrims. Each room was richly decorated with mosaics and decorative stone carvings. Not far from the temple, a large arena was built where sports competitions in honor of Apollo were regularly held. The whole complex was surrounded both by a protective wall and a beautiful alley of tall cypresses that provided shade on hot summer days.

Today, the temple is a kind of calling card of the city of Limassol. Images of the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates can be found on postcards, key ring fobs, travel guides, and even on candy boxes.