Beit Ghazaleh, Ottoman palace in Al-Jdayde district, Aleppo, Syria
Beit Ghazaleh is a mansion in Aleppo's Al-Jdayde district that combines residential quarters with a private bathhouse under one roof. The building features multiple courtyards, including one with geometric floor patterns, along with cellars beneath the ground level designed for temperature control.
The Ghazaleh family owned this residence for two centuries before it was converted into a school in 1914 to serve the community. This transformation reflects how private mansions in Aleppo shifted their purpose to meet public needs.
The walls display hand-painted inscriptions featuring popular sayings, mystical poetry, and biblical psalms rendered in Arabic calligraphy. This blend of different traditions reflects the rich spiritual world of those who once lived here.
Visiting requires attention to the multiple courtyards and underground sections that together provide a complete understanding of how the building functioned. It is best to explore slowly to appreciate all the spaces and their different purposes across the various levels.
The T-shaped reception hall showcases a blend of Ottoman and Syrian architectural features, with three iwans arranged around a central vestibule. This layout was typical of wealthy households and demonstrates how different building traditions came together in a single structure.
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