House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios

Lonely Planet review

The well-preserved House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios belonged to Kornesios, the Great Dragoman of Cyprus from 1779 to 1809. A dragoman ( tercüman in Turkish) was an interpreter or liaison officer between the Ottoman and Orthodox authorities.

Kornesios, originally from Kritou Terra village, accumulated his vast wealth through various estates and tax exemptions, and became the most powerful man in Cyprus at the time. But, as you may guess, his extravagance was his undoing. A peasant revolt in 1804, aimed at the ruling classes in general, forced him out of Cyprus and to Istanbul. Returning from exile five years later, he was accused of treason, his property was confiscated, and he was beheaded. The house itself is more beautiful and interesting than any of the exhibits inside. Only one room is set up as mock living quarters, with plush floor cushions and nargileh (Middle Eastern water pipes) for smoking. The rest of the mansion is given over to displays of antiques and Ottoman memorabilia.