In the narrow streets of Ürgüp stands a mansion, a silent witness to the art of stone craftsmanship. Leaning against the shade of two walnut trees, with its back to Ürgüp Square, the mansion whispers its own history through its natural stone columns and cave rooms.
In 1953, the Akuzun family settled here. Hatice Akuzun became the new soul of the mansion. A strong woman who held the family together, uniting them with love, she turned the mansion into more than just a house – she made it a home.
In the 1970s, two elderly Greek women knocked on the mansion’s door one day. Having traveled a long way, these women came to take a handful of soil from the land where their mothers had lived and were buried, to sprinkle it on their graves. As they passed under the stone arches, their childhood memories came alive. With misty eyes, they said, “This is the house of Yohannes and the angels.” They caressed the mansion’s stone columns, sharing sweet stories of their childhood days. Their tale added another layer of depth to the mansion's history.
Hatice Akuzun kept the mansion alive as a center of love for many years. But time had touched the stones and arches, wearing down the structure. After Hatice’s passing in 2017, her husband Mehmet Ali Akuzun made a decision to honor her memory. He would restore the mansion from top to bottom, preparing every stone, every column, every cave room as a tribute to his late wife’s spirit.
When Mehmet Ali’s meticulous restoration work was completed, the mansion regained its former glory. Now, it could host not just the Akuzun family but visitors from all over the world. The mansion’s new story was shaped by Hatice’s granddaughter, Fatma Akuzun. The mansion opened its doors to guests from across the globe. People came not just to see a stone building, but to experience a historical and emotional journey.
Now, this historic mansion stands proudly against Ürgüp's unique landscape. Guests resting beneath the walnut trees and in the shade of the arched columns feel not just a stone house, but the love and effort of Yohannes, Hatice, Mehmet Ali, and Fatma. This stone structure has become a bridge, bringing together the past and the future, cultures and people.
Each new morning, the mansion's walnut trees, cave rooms, and stone columns are ready to witness a new story. The mansion is no longer just a building; it is the embodiment of history, love, and legacy.
