ARE THERE REALLY GHOSTS AT THE BERENGARIA HOTEL?
A SUBJECT OF SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY
Located near the village of Prodromos, in the Limassol district, the Berengaria Hotel has been a subject of mystery throughout its years. The hotel, that is said to be haunted, was built by Mr. Kokkalis in the early 1930’s, and was named in honour of Queen Berengaria, wife of Richard the Lionheart, who were both married in Limassol Castle in 1191. The stone-built mountain hotel was once one of the most luxurious hotels in Cyprus, hosting its first visitors in 1931. In its heyday, it was famous for hosting famous guests, such as King Pharouk of Egypt and Winston Churchill of Great Britain, but now its rooms and grand halls, that once entertained royalty, are now home to dust and the elements.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOST STORIES?
Since the hotel’s untimely closure, and having withstood the passage of time, the Berengaria over the last few years, has become an unofficial tourist attraction of sorts, with its fair share of myths and ghost stories surrounding it. The site has attracted several visitors over the years. Seeking a supernatural adrenaline rush, they have been attracted by the building’s architecture and macabre history. Some 200 visitors a week are estimated to visit the site that is situated at an altitude of 1,400 metres. Some of these people have stated that they have seen things that can only be decribed as apparitions, whilst several others have come forward, stating that they have felt a presence and seen several ghosts roaming the hotel’s grounds to this very day.
MEET THE GHOSTS
One such ghostly entity is said to be of a former manager of the hotel, who killed himself in one of the rooms. It is said that he still wanders the empty halls in search of new victims. A merchant’s wife supposedly found floating facedown in the swimming pool now seeks revenge for her untimely demise and a fair maiden dressed in white linen is said to be visible only during dusk, leaning against one of the windows. Perhaps one of the most peculiar unconfirmed stories, that further adds to the intrigue is the eventual demise of the owners. The hotel, which was otherwise a successful endeavour, faced financial trouble in the early 1980’s, when the owner left the business to his three sons. It is believed that their conflicts and disagreements led to the hotel’s eventual bankruptcy and untimely closure in 1984. After this, all three are said to have died in strange and mysterious circumstances adding fuel to the supernatural conspiracy theories.
A FUTURE INVESTMENT
Little to no interest from investors has been recorded since the dilapidated building was abandoned to the elements forty years ago. Several experts have feared the hidden costs of renovation and have even suggested that the building should be considered one of the most demanding and risky redevelopment projects on the island. With this in mind, it seemed for a long time that the hotel’s history would not be enough to attract future investment, however, interest in the site was recently rekindled after the property was recently bought by a Limassol-based property group.
NEW OWNERS
It seems that the recent purchase of the site for a reported €2.2 million has changed the hotel’s recent fortunes. The welcome sale comes after many unsuccessful attempts by various stake holders to offload the property over the years and one of the first statements released by the new owners stated that their intentions are to revive the hotel’s past glories by breathing new life into the grand old lady, whilst protecting her unique identity. The complete area of the site spans a total of 26,520 square metres with the hotel itself covering 4,980 square metres. The group has also stated that they intend to develop some of the land surrounding the hotel with luxury villas and auxiliary buildings that will facilitate the hotel’s operation, without distorting the character of the hotel or the region. They have also said that the new development will include some infrastructure works with the aim of making the site as environmently friendly and self sufficient as possible. Such works will include wastewater treatment facilities that will recycle the establishment’s water.
THANOS HOTELS
The renovation of the Berengaria Hotel in the Troodos Mountains is already well underway and Thanos Hotels has been chosen to provide consultancy services for the project. They are currently advising architects and designers on all features, amenities and technical requirements for the new hotel, with the intention of managing the operation once it reopens in the spring of 2026. The hotel will have 30 rooms and suites and a state-of-the-art spa.
