Midyat Guest House (State Guest House)

The Midyat Guest House (Midyat Devlet Konukevi), known locally simply as the 'Konukevi', is a monumental stone mansion crowning the highest point of Old Midyat.

History & Architecture

It was built around 1850 by the Şabo (Şobo) family, one of the town's leading Syriac households, to a design by the master Syriac architect Süleyman Gharibo. With its carved facades of Midyat's pale honey-coloured limestone, arched windows and geometric-vegetal ornament, it ranks among the masterpieces of Tur Abdin civil architecture. The mansion rises over three floors: the lowest is hewn directly out of the bedrock, a cool cave-like space that acts as a natural refuge in summer; the second holds a broad terrace and rooms; and the third was added in 1930 during İbrahim Şabo's term as mayor. The stone balcony on that top floor was built specially because Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was expected to visit and speak about elevating Midyat to a province — the speech was never delivered, yet the 'Menderes balcony' still bears his name. Purchased by the Midyat district authority in the 1950s, the house became a state guest house and, restored to its original form, is today a municipality-run cultural stop open to visitors.

Fame & View

The Konukevi owes much of its nationwide fame to serving as a filming location for popular television series, above all Sıla and Hercai, which is the main draw for domestic visitors. From its terrace the skyline of Old Midyat unfolds — white stone mansions, church bell towers and minarets — best photographed at sunset. Agencies favour it on the Mardin-Midyat route because it fuses screen-culture appeal with an authentic architectural experience that takes only a short time to see.

Visiting & Access

A typical visit lasts 30-45 minutes and is usually combined with the adjacent Telkari (filigree) bazaar and the historic Gelüşke Han, celebrated for its dibek (stone-pounded) coffee. Nearby lie Mor Gabriel Monastery, the Estel folk house and the churches of Anıtlı (Hah) village. The house sits within walking distance of central Midyat; tour coaches drop off at the old-town bazaar car park, from which visitors continue on foot through narrow stone lanes. Because of its slopes and stairs, wheelchair access is limited. The best months are spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October); summer middays are hot, while spring weekends and public holidays are the busiest.