Foinikas village

Foinikas is an abandoned village located near to Asprokremmos dam at Paphos, Cyprus.  Village mainly inhabited by Turkish-Cypriots, who fled the village on July 1974. After the departure of the Turkish Cypriots, some displaced Greek Cypriots from the north were initially resettled in the village. However, the government later moved most of these persons in order to build the Asprokremmos dam near the village.

Apart the interesting ruins of the houses and other establishments, you can have a panoramic view of the dam. Access is difficult and sometimes during the year not possible.  

Coordinates 34.7479° N, 32.5684° E

Visited / photographed July 2017

Trozena Bridge

The bridge is located near to the abandoned village of Trozena in the wider area of Limassol, Cyprus. Build during English occupation of the Island by an English engineer. Is a steel construction with wooden floor and surprisingly, no arches for support! The two-three villages around are long time now abandoned so the bridge is hardly used even though is still functional for loads up to 8T.

Coordinates 34.8171° N, 32.7495° E

Visited / photographed May 2017

Bellapais Abbey

Bellapais is a French Gothic style abbey situated not far from Kyrenia city in the occupied part of Cyprus . The first church, dedicated to St Mary, build between 1190 and 1205 by Augustinians. The following years the abbey became known and reach. It is said that a knight in 1246 left to the abbey a big amount of money and a fragment of the Holly Cross.

The treasure of the monastery together with the part of the Holly Cross taken by the Genoese when came to the Island in 1378. After that the abbey felt into decay. Part of the buildings destroyed.

Today the remains have been restorated and is a must visiting the complex.

You can reach the village of Bellapais and the Abbey from Kyrenia taking an eastwards road to  Beylerbeyi (Bellapais). Crossing the village and after passing the abbey is a parking place. Cost is 5 Turkish Lira (around 1.25 Euro – July 2017). There is an entrance fee of 9 Turkish Lira (around 2.25 Euro).

Opening hours 09:00-19:00 between June and mid-September and 09:00 -17:00 the rest period (please cross-check before visiting). Coordinates 35.3074° N, 33.3554° E

 

Visited / photographed July 2017