lusignan house

The Lusignan House, a mansion from the 15th century, which is situated within the walled city of Nicosia (Lefkosa), has survived to this day. It attracts attention by its gothic-arch entrance door with its Lusignan era coat of arms as well as the Ottoman era addition of a 'kösk" (kösjk, kiosk style) and decorated ceilings.

The mansion, which has a typical characteristic inner courtyard, was built from cut stone and is two-storied with a roof but the added-on "kösk" was constructed from lath and plaster.

The upstairs veranda is reached from the ground floor round-stone pillared veranda by a particular stone stairs.

The remains of the stone arches (later on filled in), on the east wall of the rectangularly planned inner courtyards, gives the impression that the building had an eastward extension or connection.

Pictures right:
Decorated
wooden
ceilings
in the
Lusignan
House

Camille Enlart. The medieval building researcher Camille Enlart speaks about this mansion in his book "Gothic Art and Renaissance in Cyprus". The Austrian Archduke Louis Salvator, who visited the island in 1873, in his book "Lefkosia, the Capital of Cyprus" writes that a Turkish family named 'Kalorio Al Efendi' was using this mansion.

In 1958, the mansion, which had been used by the Russian Classen family as residence and a weaving workshop, had been bequeathed by them to the Cyprus Government. The mansion, which was emptied (by the local authorities) in the 1980's, had, until then, been partitioned and left for the use of refugees.

After the Antiquities and Museums Department's (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) two years arduous restoration work, the Lusignan House was opened to the public in December 1997. The mansion has been furnished with authentic furniture of the Lusignan and Ottoman periods.


		Within the walls of the old city of Nicosia (Cypriot Turkish part) THE LUSIGNAN HOUSE
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The Lusignan House, a mansion from the 15th century, which is situated within the walled city of Nicosia (Lefkosa), has survived to this day. It attracts attention by its gothic-arch entrance door with its Lusignan era coat of arms as well as the Ottoman era addition of a 'kösk" (kösjk, kiosk style) and decorated ceilings. The mansion, which has a typical characteristic inner courtyard, was built from cut stone and is two-storied with a roof but the added-on "kösk" was constructed from lath and plaster. The upstairs veranda is reached from the ground floor round-stone pillared veranda by a particular stone stairs. The remains of the stone arches (later on filled in), on the east wall of the rectangularly planned inner courtyards, gives the impression that the building had an eastward extension or connection. Pictures right: Decorated wooden ceilings in the Lusignan House Camille Enlart. The medieval building researcher Camille Enlart speaks about this mansion in his book "Gothic Art and Renaissance in Cyprus". The Austrian Archduke Louis Salvator, who visited the island in 1873, in his book "Lefkosia, the Capital of Cyprus" writes that a Turkish family named 'Kalorio Al Efendi' was using this mansion. In 1958, the mansion, which had been used by the Russian Classen family as residence and a weaving workshop, had been bequeathed by them to the Cyprus Government. The mansion, which was emptied (by the local authorities) in the 1980's, had, until then, been partitioned and left for the use of refugees. After the Antiquities and Museums Department's (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) two years arduous restoration work, the Lusignan House was opened to the public in December 1997. The mansion has been furnished with authentic furniture of the Lusignan and Ottoman periods.
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