Description of the site: The palace is one the most important historical palaces in Nablus; where it was erected by the most prominent families of the city, which held a senior political and economic status during the Ottoman period, such as the Al-Touqan family, Abd al-Hadi family, and the al-Nimr family. What distinguishes these palaces is the local planning and architectural pattern that produced a new architectural school.It was built in the third decade of the eighteenth century AD by the chief scholar of Nablus, Ibrahim Bek bin Salih Pasha Touqan, relying on generous investment from his father, and located in Haret Al-Gharb, close to Al-Nasr Street, opposite Al-Bek Mosque from the south side, where the number of rooms and quarters of the palace reached about a hundred rooms., in addition to yards and orchards with an area of about three dunums.The palace consists of several sections spread over three floors. The first floor includes a horse stable, a central gate, and a secondary one. In addition to an open main yard that retains its royal stone tiles, attached a wide diwan and several rooms and halls designated for guards and those in charge of managing the family business. To the right of the eastern facade of the yard is a stone staircase ascending to the residence's northern and southern suites. The palace's main gate overlooks the western road that connects to Al Nasr Street. It is topped by two intertwined stone arches and beautiful geometric and floral motifs. While the second floor consists of two suites separated from the north and south, each suite includes many rooms, open yards, pools, water fountains, gardens, and orchards, where various trees and vegetables were planted. The northern and southern suites were planned with a system that separated women from foreign men, in what is known as the Selamlik and Haramlik systems.The palace was subjected to a lot of destruction, affecting many parts of the housing suites, first due to the earthquake that hit the city in 1927 AD, then the damage caused by the occupation army during its invasion of the city in 2002 AD.
The palace is located in the Old City, in the Western Quarter, opposite the Al-Bek Mosque. It is bordered on the west by a road leading to Al-Nasr Street, on the south by the Nabulsi House, and on the east and north by residential houses.
PS-NBS
Palestinian Territories