According to the myth, Pavlides used to throw apples from the balcony facing the pool and whoever sees the apple would be together with him that night. There are two windows in his room; he had them constructed in such a way that one of them sees the sunrise and the other one sees the sunset.”
In the old times approaching ships could be controlled from the garden of the Blue Mansion. The key point is that the Mansion cannot be seen even from the highest peaks of the mountains that could be seen from the Mansion’s garden. After Pavlides had this Mansion constructed by an architect that was his close friend, he got him killed so that no one could know the location of the Mansion.
North Cyprus was home for Byron Pavlides who was Greek with an Italian origin, biggest gunrunner of the Middle East and the lawyer of Makarios until 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Located in Çamlıbel and hidden within five finger mountains, Blue Mansion that is full of secrets all around become both the love nest and the secret meeting place with the leaders of the mafia of Byron Pavlides.
You go through a strict ID check while entering the most mysterious place in the island. After the check you can reach the Blue Mansion by walking down a road covered in trees right and left. And the known story of a secret starts as such...
Looks ordinary; it is nothing but ordinary
A Mansion built by the lawyer of Greek Makarios with a marvellous architecture compared to the conditions of the day; everything can be seen from inside yet nothing can be seen from outside. As the military personnel give a tour of the place that is very luxurious for its day, they narrate extraordinary stories that cannot even be thought by the devil. Goods, valuable paintings, accessories, curtains, bath and toilet decorations, the pool in the garden, the aesthetic faucet that has wine in recirculation, pools that reminds one of Roman civilisation, having air-conditioning in all rooms, secret passages and cases, secrets that cannot be explained impress people all although it might look like an ordinary house.
It cannot be seen from anywhere
From the last point of the Mansion’s garden the strait and mountains ahead can be seen. It is believed that the owner of the mansion was smuggling arms through this strait that opens to the sea. Back in the day approaching ship could be controlled from the garden of the Blue Mansion. The key point is that the Mansion cannot be seen even from the highest peaks of the mountains that could be seen from the Mansion’s garden. After Pavlides had this Mansion constructed by an architect that was his close friend, he got him killed so that no one could know the location of the Mansion.
Milk Bath in the Living Room
It is said that there are secret passages in the Mansion yet they are not being exhibited as their function cannot be understood. For instance, there is a hidden opening at the bedside of the owner. Yet the actual function of it is not understood. In the living room, there is a small pool that is thought to be used for milk baths. Military personnel also narrates that the one of the famous stars of the day, Sophia Loren, spent a day in the Mansion and took a milk bath there.
Order is also thought
The Mansion was decorated with a great magnificence; there are numerous rooms. There are three more rooms in the Mansion in colours red, blue and yellow that attracts attention. Red room is spared for meetings with the mafia, blue room is spared for having the usual guests and yellow room is for children guests. Tables and chairs in the dining room downstairs with a fireplace are remarkable. Every table and chair is painted in red, blue and yellow. The reason was having the guests sitting at the tables as same colour with their rooms and maintaining order in the house whenever it would get crowded.
There are important details
There are couple of more details and stories to be heard about the Mansion. However, in general terms, when the past conditions are considered, the Blue Mansion takes its place as a museum of warning today. There are the symbols symbolizing the horoscope signs of the people he likes. For instance, there is a bull sign on one of the walls. The owner himself has the horoscope sign of Aquarius.
Besides, there is an interesting story about the amphitheatre like section (as seen in the pictures) that Pavilides used to get ready for his trials as he was a lawyer. If you stand on the black stone right in the centre of this section and talk towards the Mantion, you can hear the echo of you voice. Pavilides could in this way listen to and arrange his voice for influencing the court board.
He lived with a fear for his life
There is a dining room with a fireplace at the ground floor. Right side of the fireplace leads to the garden. The place is decorated in a luxurious manner considering the conditions of its time. Details of everything ranging from accessories in the rooms to the curtains are in place. It is claimed that there is a section in the owner’s bedroom leading to a secret passage. According to the information acquired from the authorities, it is not determined where the passage leads to; therefore, it is also regarded possible that the opening right next to the bed leads to a secret reservoir. It is said that this opening is a proof that gunrunner Pavilides lived with a fear for his life.
Curtains are sound proof
There are a lot of rooms spared for guests in the Mansion and there are curtains with different patterns in all the rooms. The characteristic of these curtains is that they have sound insulation. According to the authorities, when there were gatherings with music and parties in the garden, the curtains would keep the rooms silent. Besides, there are valuable paintings on the walls. There is also a drinking hall in the Mansion. On the walls there are different accessories. For instance, it is said that all of the ceramics at the bar are original.
Sculpture of Earthquake
In the Mansion we can see a lot of valuable paintings hanging in addition to the work of Pavilides himself and his relatives. There is the painting of Mother Mary carrying Jesus hanging on the walls of the dining room upstairs. There is a small sculpture in the Mansion. However, it takes on a special task due to its characteristics. This small sculpture does not break down under any circumstances as it can always stay balanced. Authorities state that this sculpture was used to warn the residents of the Mansion in case of an earthquake.
What a luxury!
There is a photo of the Mansion owner Pavilides hanging in the Mansion. The fact that Pavilides led a luxurious life can be understood from the photo. Besides, the table of the smuggler located in his study room was made up of antilope skin and his seat was made to disturb him so that he could study until late night hours without a break. When you open the curtains in this room you can hear the sound of the pool and when you close it the sounds stops immediately-magical! In the red room, the reason that the table of the smuggler was next to the door and he managed the meetings from here was to prevent an attack that could come from behind.
The wine was recirculating and flowing from the mouth of the lion. In the Mansion there is also a wishing well pond. People would turn their back and throw the penny over their left shoulder to the pond; if heads come up in the pond if was believed that their wishes would be granted. In the house there are a lot of confession corners and one of these corners has a mirror for Pavilides to see the entire room and dangers that can come from behind during confession with nine phases. He was very afraid for his life!
Mystery of the 13th
The Blue Mansion might be the only example of its kind in the world. Pavilides is still the biggest gunrunner of the Middle East. This smuggler has a special interest in the number 13. There are 13 fountains in the pool, 13 rooms in the house and etc. According to the information provided by the authorities, Pavilides would throw an apple from the balcony facing the pools and whoever sees the apple he would be together with that person at night. There are two windows in his bedroom; they were built in such a way that one of them sees the sunrise and the other one sees the sunset.
The Blue Mansion is open for visits between 09:00 and 18:00. It is only closed on Mondays for care.
