Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom

© Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Image

Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom

Ynys Llanddwyn—or Llanddywn island—is a tiny, idyllic piece of land off the western coast of Anglesey in Wales, United Kingdom. It has a profound connection to St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers, which can be seen in the name of the island: Llanddwyn means 'Church of Dwynwen.' Legend has it that Dwynwen, a princess in the 5th century, sought solace on this island after a tragic love story. The young woman fell in love with a commoner, but because her royal father forbade the union—and after briefly turning her beloved into a block of ice—she moved to the island and set up a convent. She dedicated her life to spirituality, living as a hermit and helping others with matters of the heart. The remains of Dwynwen's church, a well and the ruins of a convent are testaments to her legacy on Ynys Llanddwyn.