Abd Al-Hadi Palace

Site Description: The palace is considered one of the largest and most important historical palaces in the city of Nablus, which was built during the late Ottoman period, and its ownership belongs to Mahmoud Abd Al-Hadi, from the town of Arraba, which belongs to the Jenin governorate. The Abd al-Hadi family had a broad role and influence during the nineteenth century under Ottoman rule. This political and economic influence resulted in the family owning vast areas of agricultural lands in Marj Ibn Amer (Jezreel Valley), Marj Arraba (Dothan Valley), and significant grounds from the regions east of Nablus, which increased the family's wealth. This enabled them to build up to 13 palaces in the family center in Arraba, and some other palaces in several villages where the family owned most of its lands.Given the importance of Nablus, some of the family's members moved to reside there, among whom was Mahmoud Abd al-Hadi, when he became the governor and committed to the Nablus region then. He established and built this palace in 1885 AD to be his residence and property management site, and he was keen that this palace reflects the great extent of the wealth and influence that the family wielded. The possessions were wider than this palace, as the Abdul Hadi family owned two other palaces, two soap factories, and many shops in Nablus.The palace building is located on three levels comprising three floors of different functions: the first level is the lowest, and it includes a horse stable, and its gate overlooks the street adjacent to the palace from the western side. The stable was isolated from the sections of the palace, and the height of the gate enabled the knights to enter on the back of their horses, and right inside, there was a staircase linking the stable to the palace.The second level is a separate and integrated suite, consisting of a gate that leads to an open yard with a paved floor with royal stone tiles and surrounded by rooms for guards, a reception diwan, and rooms for those working in managing the family's commercial and agricultural affairs.The third level is the most essential section of the palace. It is accessed from the outer section by staircases with broken entrances to isolate the inner section, and block the view from outside visitors. This section includes a very spacious yard in the form of a large garden and tiled floors intended for children to play; this yard is surrounded by many living and sleeping rooms for family members, and some iwans with arches open towards the open courtyard.The total number of rooms and iwans of this palace is one hundred and forty-four rooms and iwan. This palace is a unique, well-designed, and well-planned architectural complex that meets the security aspects of the palace's residents and also reflects the owner's keenness to isolate the women of the palace from the outsiders in a way similar to the Selamlik and Haramlik system in Ottoman buildings.