_: The 65th Limassol Wine Festival kicked-off on Saturday evening at the Limassol Public Garden, and its doors will remain open to visitors until October 4.

The festival was launched by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Evie Tsolaki, in the presence of the House President, ambassadors, MPs, local authorities, and a large crowd of guests.

In her address, Minister Tsolaki noted that the festival continues 65 years after the late Cleanthis Christoforou proposed the wine celebration to take place in Limassol and added that wineries ETKO, LOEL, KEO, and SODAP embraced this celebration ever since. "Today we are here with over 100 smaller wineries, thanks to the support we received as an EU member state," she said.

The goal, she emphasized, is to support producers, strengthen the primary sector, communities, and the countryside, adding that the government is contributing in this direction. She mentioned that a scheme for vineyard replanting has been announced, following last year's devastating fires, with the prospect of having vineyards act as a fire protection zone.

On his part, the Mayor of Limassol, Giannis Armeftis, stated that the Wine Festival is one of the most historic and popular institutions in Cyprus, which "remains alive and full of positive energy, serving for decades as a reference point for authentic Cypriot hospitality" and the city's vibrancy.

He also mentioned that the festival's program includes 14 major concerts, theatrical performances, folklore group performances, and activities for children, among other activities. Armeftis said that the Wine Festival is a celebration for both residents and visitors, "a celebration that for decades has brought together people of all ages and keeps an important tradition of Limassol and all Cyprus alive."