mavi kosk - blue house

Sorry we didnt find the Blue Villa that impressive, I would imagine in the 60's this place would have thrown some lavish parties, but it just doesnt have that wow factor for us anyway.Its a small villa set in some lovely gardens with a view over to the North coast, there isnt much of the coast to see, but you can see the new Dam and Reservoir that has been built to supply fresh water to North Cyprus and the South if they agree, the reservoir is being supplied water from mainland Turkey via Pipes that are under the sea bed, its an amazing feat of engineering.Back to the Villa, apart from the history which is interesting there is not a lot to take in to be honest, if you are in the area or are stuck for ideas of where to go then its worth a visit if only to see the Reservoir. Sorry but this was our least favourite thing to see in North Cyprus.

what it is:it is an old house that belong to a lawyer/arm dealer whom runaway from Cyprus when Turkish army came to the island. The house now belongs to Army and saved as it is left with minor enhancements. It is a guided tour of the house and garden with a small amount of fee.need to know:- you can not take pictures inside the house but garden has a magnificent view and you can take pictures outside.- since it is a guided tour, and you'll want to have photos outside, it is better to spare 2 hours to visit and an hour to go. - we went there by car, it takes time to go there. Also visiting hours change seasonally. Winter time you have to go there before 16:00.- it is appropriate and interesting for children and grownups.

It was like stepping back into the 60's.....looking at the colorful furniture and realising that it was not that long ago this chap was an active " Bandit" so to speak.

Well worth a visit. In the foothill on the Guzelyurt road out of Kyrenia, this little gem is fascinating. Also, the views are stunning. This house and grounds are a fascinating insight and a fantastic history of a real character. He was a close friend of Archbishop Makarios and legend has it was into all sorts of nefarious stuff. Situated in one of the many Turkish Army bases on the island, you will need to bring and surrender your passport to the soldiers at the gate to get in. It will be returned, when you leave. The tale the house and grounds tell's is just ripe for a Hollywood blockbuster. Check It out on google and go. You will not be disappointed.

The Blue House is really worth a visit. We asked a taxi driver from Lapta to take us there and to wait until the end of the visit. The drive is interesting already. It took us about 45 minutes to see the very beautiful rooms and the garden. All the rooms have their own color scheme and are still in it's original state. I especially loved the bathrooms, tiling and the original air conditioning as well as the lounge with the terrace. The views from the terrace are stunning. You'll be given a booklet explaining everything you see and will be accompanied by one of the (very friendly) soldiers because the house is situated on a Turkish military base. So also don't forget your passport. Entrance fee is only 3TL per person. The story about the house and Paolo Paolides is although very unknown super interesting. It reads like a good book. Don't look for photo's on the internet before your visit but let yourself be surprised by what the place offers you.

This is the interesting place and as you know the house of one mafiosi. It seems he was the consigliere in greek mafia at the Cyprus past. So i advise you to go and to see this place.

The villa itself is definitely worth visiting for an interesting life of Paolo Paolides and quite extraordinary design. I’m sure his life would be a great blockbuster- I can imagine Leonardo DiCaprio starring in it!However, its location in a military area is rather discouraging and unpleasant. You have to leave your passport in an entrance gate and soldiers want to see another ID- e.g. a driving licence before they let you go inside the villa. You are given some papers in English where you may read all the necessary information about each room but a real guide would be better. Moreover, you are not allowed to take any pictures, which is a pity because it looks lovely inside. Despite all this I would still recommend to visit.

This place isn't advertised really and we were told of it by our friends who live in N Cyprus. Taking your passport is a must as its in an army base.We were fascinated by the rooms and the decor which was like stepping back in time. Swimming pool a bit scary it was empty and one could easly fall into and do real damage.However, its a real must for seeing something out of the ordinary.

A play boy type house in a fantastic position The rooms were all colour matched with early 1960's fittings obviously custom made.Only down side is that we were not allowed to take photo's of the inside.Well worth a visit and cheap to enter, you must hand passport in to army kiosk as the house is inside a army camp.Everyone was very helpfull

This museum is actually worth to be visited. It was built as a house in 1957. It reflects Turkish, Greek and Mediterranean architecture. The house/museum is full of knick nacks, handmade persian carpets, unique tableaus. In addition it contains swimming pool, milk pool for exclusive guests such as Sophia Loren!, relaxing sofa!, air condition!, secret escape tunnel! etc.Paolides was a greek-itailan and was the advocate of archbishop Makarios III, who was the president of Cyprus during 1960's. He was a gunrunner and smuggler for Greeks in the island.Inside the house/museum taking photo is forbidden. Aslo a Turkish soldier guides you and gives the entire information concerning house and Paolides.As a result highly recommended!

This is well worth the visit, guides are there with lots of information,well worth spending a couple of hours there, cheap admission, and spectacular views from the gardens

We were told by a bar owner to visit this house and I am so pleased we did. When we arrived we had to stop at a control point where we had to hand in one of our passports and was given a pass. The Turkish soldier was really pleasant and polite. The house itself was amazing and it is worth looking in to the history of this house. The views were just wonderful, there was a little cafe where you could get a drink or ice cream. Well worth a visit if you like history.

I suspect that we will never know the true story of Byron pavlides and what happened in this house but it is well worth the journey to see it and imagine some of the discussions, deals and agreements made here. The scenery is absolutely spectacular and as previous reviewers have said the Turkish army personnel we encountered were respectful, charming and polite, take your passport though...

Within the heavily guarded perimeter fences of Camlibel's army camp is this quite bizarre house. In a superb mountain setting it is apparently invisible from anywhere below,which is how the owner, Byron Pavlides, wanted it. Built in 1973, this was his second "coloured" house, the first being a white one near the St Hilarion Castle (now also in the domain of the Turkish army). Whether you believe the "facts" in the leaflet provide by the Turkish army guards or not (e.g. that he was a gun-runner for EOKA) the house is evidence of Pavlides' eccentric nature, especially the kitsch mock taverna. All that was found in his locked safe when the Turkish soldiers entered his house in 1974 was a golden key, whose significance is still unknown to this day.The myth is that he escaped through the tunnel accessed behind his bed which he then blew up. He was not heard of again until a rumour circulated that he had been shot dead by a Turk at a Mafia meeting in 1986.The house is not open on Mondays and you must all take your passports; the soldiers will keep one as a deposit so that they are sure that you have left! Look at other reviews for inside shots - we were told that photography wasn't allowed in the house.(NB Brown signage on the roads MAVI KOSK only in Turkish).

One of the few Greek places preserved in N. Cyprus. A knowledge of recent Cypriot history will help to understand the house (what you are told at the Blue House is very one-sided).Even though in a military area, the soldiers showed no interest in us - we did not even need to show our passports (but take them just in case).A beautifully situated house, with commanding views over the local countryside. Each room is fascinating, being vividly decorated in different colours. The bathrooms are particularly noteworthy, giving something of an insight into the occupier, Paulo Pavlides!Being somewhat out of the way, we had the whole house almost to ourselves. It was so peaceful, that there was even a pigeon sitting on an egg in her nest in one of the window boxes!After visiting the house, sitting in the beatiful gardens drinking a cup of local hazel nut coffee is not to be missed.