Ameri House is one of the largest traditional houses in the city of Kashan, dating back to Zandieh dynasty and the beginning of Ghajar’s era .
Truth to be told, the term house is what actually has been common in Persian language to describe complexes like that. If turning this back to English probably a mansion or palace would be a great equivalent; since the whole Ameri House complex includes various sections, like 85 rooms and seven courtyards. The seven courtyards are because seven independent families used to live there.
Ameri House reflects a realistic picture of the lifestyle of wealthy families in the 18th century.
Ameri House is not only a historical mansion , but also recognized as one among the best traditional hotels with quality services and facilities. It attracts a lot of guests both as a touristic site and a luxury hotel.
Ameri House also includes a museum and several halls to visit, souvenirs and handicraft shops, and a traditional restaurant and tea house.
Location of Ameri House
Ameri House is located in the center of Kashan, in the old part of the city. it is surrounded by other touristic sites, such as Borujerdi House, Abbasi House, Tabatabaei House, Toy Museum, Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, and others. Agha Bozorg Mosque and Kashan Bazaar are located in 15 minutes of walking. Click here to read more about Kashan attractions in our blogs.
History of Ameri House
The magnificent Ameri House , based on the history and architecture is older and unique than other historical and traditional houses in not only Kashan but the whole of the country.
Ameri House was constructed in the 2nd half of the 18th century during the reign of the Zand dynasty. It was meant for residency of Agha Ameri, the governor of Kashan, and his family. The governor gained his status and prestige by provisioning Shah with weaponry and maintaining the security of the route from Tehran to Kerman.
At the end of the 18th century, unfortunately the house was destroyed by a series of massive earthquakes and until 1999, the state of Ameri House deteriorated badly.
In the 19th century Ameri House was rebuilt and renovated as many other historical and traditional houses in the Kashan city.
Spending several million dollars and 15 years of work, In 1995 a great deal of renovation were done by Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Kashan and the house finally restored and turned into a residential 5-star complex, partly into a public museum. Now it is protected by the Iran Cultural Heritage Organization.
Ameri House is now being visited by many domestic and foreign tourists.
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Architecture of Ameri House
Ameri House is one of the largest historical houses of Kashan. Its total area is about 9 000 square meters and includes 85 rooms, seven courtyards, and two bathhouses. The same with other historical houses of Iran, Ameri House includes two parts – exterior or public“birooni’, used for guests and men, and interior or private “andarooni”, used by women and servants.
The house also has several chambers with three doors and one l called Shahneshins. Wind towers of Ameri House are the tallest among living houses of Kashan.
Moreover, each of these parts consist of some other parts such as hose-khaneh (pool room), Iwan (porch), several chambers, and Shah Neshin which is a seven-door hall and a part of the interior section, this room is a little higher than other rooms featuring semi-dome.
The Ameri House mansion has seven courtyards.The courtyards are adorned with ponds and porches, gardens, and different kinds of flowers and bushes. . It also includes wind catchers, that are the highest wind towers/ wind catchers) among Kashan’s historical houses that has added to its beauty
Both exterior and interior parts are ornamented with decorative plaster works, detailed wood carving and other ornaments. The construction of the house involved such materials as bricks for the main structure, mud, and straw for covering walls, thick wooden doors, gypsum reliefs of façade and ceilings, mirrors, tiles and paintings for interior decoration.
There are a few pool rooms in the courtyards that had many usages in summer. The house also features two separated bathes, one for men and the other one for women
Underground paths
of Ameri House
One of the unique features of Ameriha House is underground paths that connect the two parts of exterior and interior of Ameriha House together. This feature is not common among other traditional houses.
Internal Ameri House Decoration
Ameri House can be one of the perfect examples of the detailed artwork in Persian architecture and in fact historical houses are the best representative of the intelligence and art combination in architectural complexes as many of them express the needs, trends and lifestyle of the people from that era which highly depends on the region, its geographical state and weather. arts like Muqarnas, painting on plaster, wood engraving and other decoration arts were used.
Both exterior and interior parts are ornamented with decorative plaster works, detailed wood carving and other ornaments.
In the interior design, the architect used fabulous embellishments. He used wood for doors, mirrors in the ceiling, and colorful paintings and tiles for decorating walls.
Separate baths of Ameri House
One of the outstanding differences of Ameri House is having separate baths specific for men and women which in that era, this architectural feature was not common.
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Activities to Do in Ameri House
As Ameri House Mansion is far more than a historical mansion as said above, it offers the visitors a wide range of activities to enjoy; visiting a number of halls, objects and remaining from the 19th century that are maintained in its museum. Enjoying Persian tea at the traditional tea house or the Persian food in the restaurant located in the mansion itself, purchasing souvenirs from the handicraft shops are some of the activities you can enjoy in Ameri house. Moreover, you can stay a couple of nights at the Saraye Ameri House Boutique Hotel.
Saray-e Ameri House Boutique Hotel
A huge amount of budget has been spent on the house’s renovation in 1999. After 15-years of significant efforts, Ameri House turned into a 5-star hotel and a museum. Known as Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel.
This 5-star hotel provides with the authentic feeling what it used to feel like living as a 19th century rich resident and enables you to process the cultural and social features which were common during those times not just in terms of its architecture and artwork roots but also sociology, culture and the historical story behind the mansion.
Saray-e Ameri House Restaurant
Ameri House Restaurant is located in the Ameri mansion so you have this option to enjoy Persian food in that atmosphere. All visitors have this option to dine in the restaurant whether they are staying at the hotel or not! The restaurant has a traditional Persian atmosphere with delicate architecture artworks like its mirror works all over the place.
Many original Persian recipes and dishes are served there and we recommend you to try the Kashan local foods in this restaurant or other restaurants around so you will have a better frame work of the locals lifestyle and traditions.
We Hope you have enjoyed Chiyako Travel‘s Blog post about Ameri house in Kashan city. Hope to sse you all our travelers in kashan to accompany and guide you through all its miracles and beauties.
