The mansion, consisting of two parts which are located in north and east edges of a rectangular coutyard was built of local hewnstone. The edifice in the east side is single storey whereas the other is double storied. According to the inscription ,where ‘Masallah’ is written, the mansion was built in 1859. Contrary to the houses in the neighbourhood, there is a historical well which reflects the ancient times well in the midst of the courtyard.

The mansion reflecting the culture and history of the district with its unique architecture, was used as infirmary during the Independence War. Later on, it became a home for Hikmet Cingi- a famous postman in Avanos- and his family. The name of the mansion originates from these dwellers.

In 2013, the mansion was restored by native hands and craftsmen protecting the former structure and observing the architectural characteristics of the region. In 2014, our mansion ,preserving its authentic structure, has started to deal out and accomodate with 5 comfortable pretty rooms.

Gateway

The door which is opened from the street to the courtyards in the dwellings where there are courtyards. We want to welcome you in the gateway of Hikmet Cingi Mansion.

Courtyard and Şirahna(Shirahna)

Courtyard is the place where most of the time is spent. It is built as patio with higher walls in order to preserce privacy and get shady spot in long hot summer days. Gateway connects the street with the courtyard. Sometimes a kitchen called ‘eyvan’ is observed between the courtyard and the street. Despite the fact that there is no well, pool, fountain here, unlike the stone houses around, the specific characteristic of Hikmet’s house is the ‘shrahna’ which belongs to tafana. Tafana is the place where bread is made and kept. Shrahna that is also called ‘shra hane’ isa small pool being used to compress the grape in order to get grape juice. The pool has got a smaller part called ‘bolum’ in which the grape juice is filled.

Housetop of The Hanging Bunch of Fruit

As a consequence of viniculture, a room, where the grape is kept and preserved after vintage, is built in each home. It’s called ‘hevenk dami’ in Turkish language that means housetop of the hanging bunch of fruit. The rooms’ temparature is suitable for the fruit. Grape is kept as hanging bunch. The room is built either in the lower store or in the housetop. It’s seen as a chamber made by stone or carved out of rock.

Housetop

The open placdimany of which are costructed upon tafanas. It can be reached through a door which is opened in lower floor or through the ladder in the courtyard. In summer, variety of fruit like grape,apricot are dried in the hosetop.

Pabuçluk(Pabuchluk), Tandir, Seki, Sedir, Lounge, Wall Niche, Yukluk, Yunak

Pabuchluk is the place in the entrance of the room through which the people pass in order to reach the main chamber. The floor of the pabuchluk is made of stone or soil. The latter part is seki, which means a higher step, tha main part. Sedir prepared as the sofa made of wood or stone in the entrance hal or eyvan, the summer kitchen. Wall niches can have patterned surfaces. It is constructed as bulge or indent being used to put gas lamp, kerosene lamp,head lamp called ‘chrappa’.

There are two groups of yukluk being constructed as open or covered niches. There is usuaaly a hamam chamber behind the yukluk. Yukluk is the place in which the cushion, quilt, duvet cover are put. Hamamlık or yunak is constructed in the lower floor either of stone or carved out of rock according to the age of the room. The dirty water runs to the street through narrow canals.

Tandır is constructed between tafana and chardak.

Barn And Grain Storage

Barn and grain storage are restored versions of caves in the lower stores of the houses. Great and small cattle live together in the barns. Some of the caves are used as grain storage. Generally, they have got two doors. One of them is directly connected to the courtyard, whereas the other is related to the street.

Food Store

The food storage is available behind the tafana that is made engraving the cave. In these chambers, commodities like cheese, honey, butter, fruit are preserved because of the fact that they have not sunlight inside. According to the investigations about mansions, kitchen is consructed instead of tafana. Tandır is transformed into the oven that has its place on the walls. In these places, there are cupboards like niche instead of food stores.