In February 1923, forty-five years after the transfer of sovereignty of the island from the Ottomans to the British, Limassol finally got its first grand public building, the new Hospital.

The choice of the Renaissance style by the architect of the project Joseph Kaifiera was, by all accounts, very successful. Characteristically, he is always sensitive to matters of aesthetics. Menelaos Fragoudis writes in Alithia:

"It is the only public work worthy of the name, which was built in Cyprus, with architectural harmony and with a rhythm consistent with the climate and the smiling environment of Cyprus. Because the other public buildings, which the English made, as a rule resemble prisons, or vividly recall Scottish towers and gloomy houses, made of English snow and fog. We therefore sincerely congratulate Mr. Cafiero (Caffiero?) and the Department of Public Works, who with this magnificent edifice redeems his former architectural sin and corrects artistic misspellings, before which any self-respecting Architect would commit suicide out of despair." (1)

The opening of the building was solemnized. The Commissioner arrived from Nicosia and a company of the English army, encamped in Polemidia, paid their respects, while the philharmonic played the English anthem. The Commissioner was received by the temporary commander of Limassol, the Mayor and the authorities of the city. There were also many curious people who watched the ceremony, from a distance, of course. It was a rare opportunity to taste something of the grandeur of old Albion. Even the old Foskolos was enlisted to immortalize the special ceremony. Its photograph was found in W. H. Flinn's rare book Cyprus, A brief Survey of its history and development", from 1924. The building stands out majestically in the photograph, with its central pediment and floor colonnades. Frangoudis' enthusiasm was justified. Indeed the building is adapted "to the climate and the laughing environment of Cyprus".

The environment of Cyprus was funny then, today to some extent, unfortunately, it is rather for crying

(1) Newspaper "Truth" 2/12/1922

Joseph Cafiero (1877-1953): Ingegnere del Distretto di Limassol, ha progettato importanti edifici pubblici a Limassol e altrove. (из книги Catolici di rito romano)