Bellapais Abbey

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One of the most beautiful and haunting Gothic monastic ruins in the whole of the Mediterranean, Bellapais Abbey lies at the foot of the Pendadaktylos (Besparmak) mountains, with a breathtaking, vertiginous view of the sea below. The abbey's name derives from Abbaye de la Paix (Abbey of Peace). It was founded in 1205 by Augustinian monks fleeing Jerusalem and was dedicated to Our Lady of the Hill. The present church was built at the end of the 13th century, while the rest of the buildings were added a century later. The abbey, which also comprises a refectory, dormitory and vaulted cellars, enjoyed power and prosperity until the end of the Venetian era, when its influence declined and its strict rule was increasingly disregarded. When Cyprus was captured by the Ottomans, the monks fled the island, and the abbey was given to the Orthodox Church. Today, it's used as an atmospheric venue for classical music concerts and art exhibitions.