Bellapais Monastery, Kyrenia

Ruins of the Gothic Bellapais Monastery adorn the hillside of Kyrenia Mountain, with its French ornamentation, Genoese and Venetian influences, and lush colorful gardens. Dating back to the 13th century, the building served as a monastery and living quarters of Kings Hugh the 3rd and Hugh the 4th. The site was neglected and mistreated for centuries until the 1900s, when a small portion of the monastery and its surroundings were restored. Today you can see evidence of centuries of destruction, preservation, and restoration, nestled in maintained gardens of palm trees, carob trees, and flowers. Due to its extraordinary acoustics, concerts are often held at the abbey. To visit Bellapais Monastery on your trip to Kyrenia, use our Kyrenia tour itinerary planning site.