Thursday, November 20, 2025
Abu Hajla Palace
An ancient palace in Deir Istiya,
Palestine
GamilSinkiLLC
•
Abu Hajla Palace is an ancient palace built 600 years ago.
Located in the middle of the old town of Deir Istiya , north of Salfit.
It was built by one of the Ottoman feudal lords.
Then it became a government center for the Ottomans.
And after their departure from Palestine,
They gave it to one of the tax collectors from the Qasim family.
Then the Abu Hajla family bought it.
And it is currently used as a guest house in the town.
The Palace composition
The palace covers an area of 750 square meters.
,divided into three wings
And rises approximately 492 meters above sea level
Making it higher than all the town’s lands and old houses.
Thus placing it under the watchful eyes of the Ottomans,
And the palace’s inhabitants.
It comprises ten spacious rooms built from stones,
Brought from the Jamma’in region.
Inside, there is a gallows.
A very small room used as a prison cell.
Rooms for Ottoman soldiers and guards.
A stable for horses, water wells , and olive oil wells.
Its owner used oil instead of lime,
To complete the construction of its facades, after the well water ran dry.
A testament to his immense wealth.
It also features decorative tiles that form an artistic tableau,
As well as winter heating and old-fashioned summer air conditioning.
There are earthenware vessels, like pipes,
Arranged on top of each other in a manner resembling bathhouses,
On its roof and outer walls.
These were used to cool the palace’s inhabitants during the summer
As they were moistened with water to produce cool, humid air.
At the bottom of the palace are two wells,
One for water, eight meters deep, and the other for oil.
As Deir Istiya is considered the third largest town in olive oil production.
Restoration
In 2016, the Deir Istiya Municipality contracted with,
The Abu Hajla family,
To acquire the palace for twenty years,
In exchange for its restoration and preservation.
The municipality worked to make the Abu Hajla Palace,
The first tourist palace in the Old City.
The largest investment project for the municipality
And the first guesthouse for tourists visiting,
Palestine in general and Deir Istiya in particular.
The restoration was carried out at a cost estimated at over one million shekels.
During the restoration process,
Small rooms were discovered in the walls,
,That were used for heating in winter
And small rooms containing chimneys,
Leading upwards that were sealed.
PEACE ON EARTH
علي الار ًض السلام وفي الناس المسرة
Paid SUR TERRE
FRIEDEN AUF ERDEN
PACE SULLA TERRA
PAZ EN LA TIERRA
VREDE OP AARDE
পৃিথবীেত শান্