Dar Ben Abdallah, Palace and museum in Medina, Tunisia.
Dar Ben Abdallah is a two-story palace in the heart of the Medina with traditional Islamic architecture, carved wooden doors, ornate plasterwork, and a central courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by galleries on multiple sides, now arranged as a museum displaying traditional household objects and furnishings.
The palace was built in 1796 as a private residence and later acquired by silk merchant Mohamed Tahar Ben Abdallah, whose name the building still carries. Over the 20th century, it was transformed into a museum documenting traditional Tunisian ways of life.
The museum displays traditional household furnishings and objects from daily life in the 18th and 19th centuries, documenting the habits of a wealthy family. Visitors see original furnished rooms and learn how residents dressed, prepared meals, and observed religious celebrations.
A visit takes about an hour and a half to two hours and is best done in the morning when fewer visitors are present. The building has narrow stairs and low doorways that require moving at a comfortable pace.
The building houses a rare collection of wedding costumes and festive garments from the 18th and 19th centuries worn by women of the upper class. These silk and gold textiles reveal the skilled craftsmanship and wealth of that era.
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