Bellapais
The village surrounds the ruined 13th Century Abbey which Lawrence Durrell described in his Bitter Lemons of Cyprus book of the 1950’s.
We stayed in a large villa with magnificent views over the village, the ruined Abbey and the coast.
The village is on the lower slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range, just South of Kyrenia. This photo was taken from the Abbey.
Lawrence Durrell’s House in Bellapais
The nicest house in the village. According to Durrell, originally a small worker’s cottage which he substantially enlarged before living in it.
There are in fact two neighbouring restaurants laying claim to the Tree of Idleness under which Durrell wrote his famous book. The confusion no doubt arises due to the change in the ethnic make-up of population after the 1974 troubles. The one below served great food.
Bellapais Abbey
Built in the early 13th Century, the Abbey is considered (by the North Cyprus guide books) as one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the Near East. Mostly in ruins, it retains a very peaceful atmosphere, despite tourists clambering all over the walls.
The Bell tower above the entrance to the church.
You can just see in this photo the poorly preserved fresco remains above the doorway.
The Cloister
The interior of the (ex-)Greek Orthodox church.
Ann outside the Church. Bougainvillea are very common here – glorious.
View through the gateway into the Kitchen Garden area and the Mediterranean beyond.
The ruins are lit up at night, lending an extra dimension to the tranquil site.
