Bellapais [Beylerbeyi, Mpellapaïs]

Village Bellapais is a small village in northern Cyprus, about four miles from Kyrenia (Girne in Turkish) and was the home for some years of Lawrence Durrell who wrote about life in Turkish occupied Cyprus in his book Bitter Lemons. He mentions passing the time drinking coffee under the Tree of Idleness in the village and there are two places which lay claim to being the spot. Unfortunately his book did not identify it completely or perhaps it is fortunate because two establishments can cash in on the name. His house, up a very steep climb has a plaque on it and one can have the pleasure of returning by a not-quite-so-perpendicular way which has an added interest in passing by old olive presses.

1960 population
Greeks 719
Turks 0