Erzene: Historic Mansions, Art and Maritime Culture

Erzene offers several cultural and historical points of interest that can be clearly distinguished by subject: Dramalılar Mansion, which serves as an archive and museum; the Arkas Maritime History Center, with its maritime collection; and Mattheys Mansion, which was converted into the Arkas Sanat Bornova Art Museum. For planning your trip, this distinction is more useful than a simple list of names. You can weigh up whether you are more interested in historic architecture, the history of Bornova, maritime exhibits, or the later use of a historic house.

Cultural History at Dramalılar Mansion

Dramalılar Mansion is located in Erzene Mahallesi. Its construction is estimated to date to the late 18th or early 19th century; the exact year it was built is unknown. The complex comprises the main house, a hammam, outbuildings, a stable and entrance buildings. The ensemble is therefore more revealing when viewed as a whole than when considering only the main house: the various ancillary and access buildings are also part of the complex. On November 3, 2012, the building opened as the Bornova City Archive and Museum. Images and documents on Bornova’s history, antiques and other materials are available to researchers and historians. The mansion is also a cultural venue that brings together Bornova’s artistic and historical heritage and welcomes visitors. Check the current visiting arrangements before your visit.

Maritime Collection at the Arkas Maritime History Center

At the Arkas Maritime History Center, a maritime collection and the history of the building come together. On display are 89 ship models, 126 maritime antiques and 67 paintings, as well as nautical charts and equipment for sponge diving. The collection is therefore not limited to ship models: paintings, charts and sponge-diving equipment broaden the range of perspectives on maritime subjects. The building itself is a 19th-century Levantine mansion, formerly home to the Arkas family. Those interested in historic architecture can consider the collection and the house’s former residential function as two distinct aspects of the same place.

Mattheys Mansion: Building History and Art Museum

Mattheys Mansion offers a different historical timeline. John Maltass had the house built in 1780. On September 16 and 17, 1922, it housed Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Between 2018 and 2023, the mansion was converted into the Arkas Sanat Bornova Art Museum; it opened as a museum in April 2023. The site can therefore be understood through three clear milestones: its construction, the historic stay and its later conversion into an art museum.

Different Historical Timelines

Another difference lies in how precisely the building history is dated: for Dramalılar Mansion, only an estimated period is given, while the year Mattheys Mansion was built, 1780, is known. Mattheys Mansion also has Atatürk’s stay, which is dated, and its conversion into a museum. If you compare historic sites by their chronological milestones, this is a clear distinction; for Dramalılar Mansion, the dating remains a period. If you would like to visit Dramalılar Mansion, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

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