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 northern part (being the Selamlık) and the balustrade of the upper terrace.

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).