This extraordinary construction was built in 1884 by the devoted patriot Nikolaos Tsigadas Pasha. The contemporary author wrote about this mansion:
It is royal from every perspective. The murmur of evergreen trees, the splash of waves, the chirping of partridges, and various other bird sounds create a powerful symphony. The scents of the mansion vary, from the fragrance of myrtle, cypress, holy vines, to laurels and rose laurels… they provoke admiration in the visitors.
Similarly, you admire the small harbor along with the pier and the breakwater, which has two rows of cypress trees. The railings and the grand, flower-adorned entrance leading to the mansion seal the grandeur of the estate.
There was a permanent gardener, tending to the exotic garden of the mansion, named “Skefili”. The locals called him “psychikaris’ because he generously gave twenty francs and pounds to the poor Lerians. With a specially chartered ship, the Pasha would arrive from Alexandria to Lakki, transporting his compatriots for free.
The years of Ottoman rule passed, and in 1923, the Italians, with the compulsory exchanges, turned the building into an Officers’ Club. At the same time, they built houses for officers around this area.
In 1949, the same 466 sq.m. building would house the Agricultural School, the philharmonic, and the club for the officers of the Royal Technical Schools.
A little later, in 1964, the same building would host the 160 beds of the Child Psychiatry Clinic. The well-known 7th pavilion.
In 1991, it housed the nursing school until October 27, 2000.
Since then, we have put a padlock on this building and “left”…
***Access to the Lapida area is typically restricted to the public. If you wish to explore the area, obtaining special permission from the municipality or at the entrance may be required.
