BELLAPAIS ABBEY: don't miss something very special..!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 12:25

Thousands of visitors park near the Bellapais Abbey (built from 1206 and enlarged during the Lusignan era*) every year to visit one of the most beautiful cloisters in the Mediterranean and Levant. Or they leave the bus at the parking place and walk straight through the village main street to the abbey...

And they ALL miss a fascinating medieval monument, which was restored in full glory in the past years!

Enough - detailed information, a photobook and directions for your next visit here:

▶ [ http://is.gd/nBYOCe ].



* All about Bellapais Abbey here:

▶ [ http://www.allcrusades.com/CASTLES_COUNTRIES/castles_cyprus_overview-2.html ]

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 16:55

Back to Bellapais Abbey...

gallowgate


Joined: 08/06/2009
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 18:52

Have to say I love Bellapais village to visit but the Abbey is really not good value for money (IMHO)



I think Kyrenia Castle is very good value but Bellapais can be seen from the cafe in the grounds or the car park and quite disappointing once in.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 19:36

@ msg 3, gallowgate: Allow me to disagree with you. At Bellapais Abbey you only see what you know or hear. My Cypriot Turkish friend Ibrahim, a KITREB guide there, could give you a tour you'd never forget - if he feels you're really interested... And so could I.

Have you seen the mason marks and the... and the... and the... and heard the lively story about the French Lusignan King who spent all his money to show the world the money available in Cyprus..? And the poor serfs (life expectancy: 30-35 years) who were forced to build the dreams of the tyrants, the cursed race of the Lusignans?

I offer you a free tour of Bellapais Abbey and I'm sure you will change the content of post # 3..!

gallowgate


Joined: 08/06/2009
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 22:43

Hi DC



I did have a tour and yes saw the masonry marks etc. It was interesting but I didn't think it was great value. Kyrenia castle and St Hilarion appeared to me to be very much worth the entrance fee.

It is really good of you to offer a free tour, I will be out again in July and may well take you up on your offer, I'm sure you will point out things I missed.



Many thanks

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
27/04/2011 13:12

Re : Msg 4,





Can I have a tour of the Abbey and the surroundings, please, please,please!



I would like to see The Tree of Idleness as well.



http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/46372.asp

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/04/2011 19:02

@ msg 6, Clarissa2: (...) I would like to see The Tree of Idleness as well. (...)

▶ Which one?! There are still TWO claims in Bellapais to 'have' the 'real' Tree of Idleness... One of the claimants must be mistaken - but which one..?!

P.S. The answer is NOT in "Bitter lemons" by Lawrence Durrell!

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
27/04/2011 20:20

Re : Msg 7,



Which one? I thought we more or less decided that it is this one:



http://home.clara.net/bobmonty/cyprus55/cyprus55/tree-of-idleness.html

in this thread:

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/46372.asp





Clarissa





P.S. By the way, you did not say 'yes'.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 08:07

@ msg 8, Clarissa2: Sorry, but I'm still not convinced - imo the 'proof' is very thin.

2 : The answer is "yes"...

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 20:59

Re: Msg 9,



Dear DC,



You are not convinced.

Shall we revisit this topic in order to find better 'proof'?

Would you like to see the photograph of the tree from the archives of the BEA?

Re: the answer. Thank you , I'm thrilled.



Kindest regards as always,



Clarissa

kennyb1


Joined: 06/06/2009
Posts: 88

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 22:35

Hi Dutchcrusader

Thanks for the original posting and links I have visited many times and never noticed many of the things mentioned in the links.

Thanks again for the posting

Keep posting

Keep smiling

Kennyb