Marcia Byles is a lifelong resident of St. Augustine. She had worked in her family’s hotel & restaurant business for over 25 years, but in 2005, she had the opportunity to come aboard another family business, the Villa Zorayda Museum.
What is your favorite thing about St. Augustine and St. Johns County?
I have always loved St. Augustine’s charm – its history and its beautiful architecture. Of course, the beaches here are some of the best that can be found anywhere. Also, growing up here, the brick streets just seem to symbolize “St. Augustine.”
Tell us briefly the story of your family’s legacy at the museum. And, for those who might not know, what is the Villa Zorayda?
It’s hard to be brief… The Villa Zorayda was built in 1883 as the winter home of a wealthy man from Boston, named Franklin Smith. He utilized architectural details from the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, to bring part of Spain to Spanish St. Augustine. My grandfather, Abraham Mussallem, purchased the Villa Zorayda in 1913, and turned it into a museum in 1933. The Mussallem family has been the guardians of the Villa Zorayda for over 104 years. First, with my grandparents who operated it as a museum until their deaths, and later in the 1960s with my father and uncle who renamed the museum, Zorayda Castle. Zorayda Castle closed in the year 2000 and underwent an extensive eight-year restoration financed by my father, Eddy Mussallem, former Mayor of St. Augustine. During that time my husband Jim and myself oversaw the restoration and in 2008 we reopened once again as a museum going back to the original name given to it by Franklin Smith. Over 104 years and three generations, the Mussallem/Byles family has been the guardians of the Villa Zorayda. A few years ago our daughter Olivia McKay joined the family business and will become the fourth generation to continue the legacy of the Villa Zorayda.
What part did the Villa Zorayda play in St. Augustine’s Gilded Age history?
The building was one of the first large-scale grand Gilded Age Homes to be built in St. Augustine. And, its method of construction — poured concrete and crushed coquina stone — set precedence for the Flagler Era hotels and churches. It all began with the Villa Zorayda.
The Villa Zorayda’s preservation is quite an undertaking. Why is its preservation crucial?
The Villa Zorayda is an important part of St. Augustine’s history. These historic structures in St. Augustine define what our City is all about. They tell a story about our past and about our culture and about our citizens. Without them our City would be like any other city.
What is your favorite Zorayda story?
My favorite story relates to the “traceries.” One of the most spectacular features of the Villa Zorayda is the lacey-looking treatment you see on many of the walls and around the arches, which are referred to as “traceries.” These “traceries” are made of crushed alabaster and plaster and were produced in the same molds as originally carved for the walls of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, in the 13th Century. Franklin Smith was able to borrow these molds from a museum in England back in the 1800s. He shipped the molds to Spain where the “traceries” were produced. The “traceries” came via three ships. However, the last ship traveling from Spain faced a fierce storm and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. So, not all of the walls of the Zorayda have the “traceries” on them.
How have you seen St. Augustine’s arts and heritage scene change and grow?
I think today more people are aware of St. Augustine’s arts and heritage. Residents and visitors both see this as an important part of St. Augustine and, of course, this is for the better.
Tell us about the museum’s Christmas Candelight Tours occurring this season. How and when did they begin?
We started our Candlelight Tours eight years ago as a special way for visitors to experience the Villa Zorayda. To me, the Villa is the most beautiful at night with all the hanging brass lamps. And, it’s one of the few times that you can see the museum at night. We have it beautifully decorated for the Holidays with a spectacular Christmas tree decorated in the colors of the Zorayda – red and gold – located center stage.
There are more than 100 candles throughout the museum and many Victorian decorations as well. Jim and I give the tour, which is a completely different way to see the museum than if you were to come during the day where we offer guests a self-guided audio tour. Candlelight Tours are offered on select evenings during St. Augustine’s “Nights of Lights” celebration. Reservations are required as we only take a limited number of guests for each tour.
