Abdolali Khan Soufi Mansion

The Abdolali Khan Soufi Mansion is one of the most important historic buildings in Amlash County, Gilan Province, and dates back to the Qajar era. This magnificent mansion stands in the centre of Amlash, on a site of 5,000 square metres with 700 square metres of built area. Construction began about 186 years ago under Haj Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan Soufi and was carried out in the "Gereh-chin" (geometric interlacing) architectural style. The mansion has two floors with summer and winter living quarters, 12 rooms and 6 alcoves. Its symmetrical design, together with delicate plasterwork, stained glass, wall paintings and beautiful mirror work, is among the building's most distinctive features. In 1971 (1350 SH) the mansion was inscribed on Iran's National Heritage List, and it has become one of the outstanding attractions of Gilan.

Over the past two centuries the mansion has housed five generations, and historic Iranian architecture and art can be seen here in an original and eye-catching form. As in other historic houses of the Qajar era, the kitchen, bathhouse and bathing pool (khazineh) are located outside the main building. The interior has a charming atmosphere that draws the attention of every visitor. One of the building's appeal is that it has an andaruni (private family quarters) for the families of Abdolali Khan, and a sardar (formal entrance quarters) for receiving military leaders and prominent families, a symbol of the customs of the Qajar era.