Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Historical structure in Saudi Arabia
Nasseef House is one of the best-known historic mansions of Al-Balad, old Jeddah, on its main street, Souq al-Alawi. It was built between 1872 and 1881 for Omar Nasseef Effendi, of a wealthy merchant family and governor of Jeddah at the time, and is a fine witness to traditional Hejazi architecture. It gained political and historical weight as a guesthouse for notable visitors to the Hejaz: kings, princes, scholars and ministers stayed here, including the Sharifs of Mecca and King Hussein bin Ali and his son Ali. When Abdulaziz Ibn Saud entered Jeddah in December 1925 he stayed in Bayt Nasseef, and it served as one of his residences in the city for some years. In the 1920s it was a kind of salon for consuls and merchants, and its library of thousands of books was later given to King Abdulaziz University. The house has 106 rooms over several floors, with the carved wooden rawasheen bay windows typical of Jeddah, which let air through while keeping out the sun, and a broad staircase said to have been climbed by camels carrying water and supplies. A tree beside it was once said to be the only one in old Jeddah. Today it is a cultural centre and museum on Jeddah's history, part of Historic Jeddah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
According to Wikivoyage it opens in the evening, the best time to wander Al-Balad as the heat eases. Climb to the upper floors for views over old Jeddah's rooftops and rawasheen. Allow an hour for the house, then explore Souq al-Alawi and the lanes of Al-Balad. It may close on Fridays, so check before going.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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