Though not a museum, this is a fine house.

This restored mansion, also called ‘Konuk Evi’, is since May 1993 the Guest House of the Şanlıurfa Governorship. It dates from c. 1890, and was built in stone, the usual building material for large houses in the region. The mansion has two sections: ‘Selamlık’ (where guests were received by the male members of the family) and ‘Haremlik’ (the private part, where the women lived and no men were allowed if they were not close relatives). The two storey Selamlık was built in a style that incorporated some modern (European) elements; the Haremlik on the contrary followed entirely the traditional architecture of the old Urfa houses.

On the picture: The inner courtyard of the Haremlik, with a small pool in the centre. It is situated on the first floor level, and is a nice example of traditional Urfa architecture.

The Guest House services its guests with 6 rooms (8 beds in total) located upstairs (with TV, telephone, bathroom, airco – and probably also Wifi nowadays), a lecture hall accommodating up to 60 people and 6 oriental rooms downstairs. There is a good rated restaurant, a summer cafeteria in the courtyard and a tea garden outside.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Şanlıurfa Valiliği: Konuk Evi’, 1999 & Personal visit (1999).