Divrigi Mansion

It is estimated to have been built around 1838. The mansion was built by Mehmed Ağa, son of Karamahmud. Built as a large mansion, it is one of the most remarkable of Divriği's old houses despite the damage it has suffered. Both local craftsmen and those brought from Sivas and Trabzon worked on its construction. Although it now has eight separate door numbers, it was originally built as a single, unified mansion.

The original plan of the mansion consisted of three main sections: the selamlık (reception hall), the 'mabeyn' (inner chamber) facing the courtyard at the back, and the harem (women's quarters) extending along the alley further back. However, this original plan has not been preserved, and today only a portion of the selamlık section has been restored and opened to visitors. These three sections were connected on the upper and lower floors by halls, corridors, and doorways, but this unity and connection no longer exist. The courtyards are also divided by partition walls. The greatest damage occurred in the connection between the selamlık and mabeyn chambers; the large divanhane (reception hall) and four rooms located there, as well as the stable below, have been completely destroyed.

In the original structure of the mansion, the courtyard opens onto the street through two-winged gates. The northern gate is the main entrance. The other gate was primarily used for the entry and exit of servants and animals. The lower floor of the two-story selamlık (reception) section consisted of stables, storage rooms, and servant quarters. The 'ayakçak' (footrest), its attached 'ayakçakbaşı' (head of the footrest), the 'divanhane' (reception hall), and the 'at örtmesi' (horse covering) located beneath the divanhane are all in ruins.

In the mansion's original plan, the upper floor included a large 'selamlık sofa' (reception hall), a 'başoda' (large summer room) on the street facade, a coffee hearth, a summer room, and another room. On the courtyard side of the başoda was a large winter room, and around the selamlık sofa were five more rooms. Today, only the başoda, the winter room, the coffee hearth, the second summer room, and one of the back rooms remain. The başoda is the most important part of the selamlık in Divriği houses.

In the A'yan Ağa Mansion, the başoda has windows opening on all four sides, providing light and spaciousness to the room. The window and ceiling decorations are among the most striking ornaments in Divriği houses. The long facade of the second main section, the mabeyn chamber, faces the courtyard, while the narrow facade faces the alleyway. It is connected to the rear section of the selamlık (reception hall) by a corridor. The lower floor of the mabeyn was originally used as a storage area but was later converted into a house. On the upper floor, there are three rooms and a small courtyard facing the selamlık courtyard.

The third main section, the harem, is a two-story section located behind the mabeyn chamber. The main entrance of the harem opens onto the alleyway. The ceiling decoration of the summer room facing the street and courtyard, and the decorations on the fireplaces and wooden ornaments in the other rooms, are as striking as those in the selamlık section. In the original plan, the lower floor of the harem contained a harem hall and five rooms surrounding it. It is known that the upper floor also contained a large hall and four large rooms. At the back of the harem side, the lower floor contained the kitchen, hallway, pantry, and playroom, while the upper floor had two rooms and a semi-open courtyard. A courtyard pavilion was located in the center of the courtyard. Today, the harem has not preserved its original plan. The large rooms have been divided, the bathhouse located at the front of the harem has been demolished, and the kitchen has been divided and converted into an entrance from the street. However, the toy house on the lower floor is very well preserved.