Description of the attraction
The luxurious mansion of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, named after its creator and first owner, is located practically in the very heart of Nicosia, in the spiritual center of the whole island - very close to the Archbishop's palace.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, dragoman (translator) Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios was a Greek representative under the Ottoman rule, one of whose main occupations was tax collection. According to historical sources, Kornesios soon became practically the richest man in the city, which allowed him to build this magnificent home. However, his wealth did not save him from execution - the authorities accused him of fraud and he was beheaded. The rich mansion after the death of Kornesios went to his family. They also transferred it to the possession of the Nicosia community in 1979. At the moment, the mansion has been turned into a museum, where you can see many exhibits dedicated to the history of the city - ceramics, icons, coins, furniture, kitchen utensils. In addition, the house itself can tell a lot about the life and lifestyle of that time, because its furnishings and decoration of the rooms have practically not changed since the time of creation.
This two-story building is a fine example of urban architecture from the Ottoman period in Nicosia. It was built in 1793 and resembles the Greek letter "Δ" in shape, and a lush garden with fountains was laid out around it. Also, one of the main features of the house is the presence there of a hamam - a traditional Turkish bath, in which there are three rooms. It is noteworthy that the bathhouse is still operating.
The House of Hajigeorgakis Kornesios was awarded the Europa Nostra prize of the European organization for the protection of cultural heritage in 1988.
