Hagi Prodan House Museum, Ploiesti, Prahova

The oldest house in Ploiești

Where is it, when to visit, how much does it cost?

The Hagi Prodan House of Targoviste Museum is located at 2 Democratiei Street and can be visited from Tuesday through Sunday between 9am-5pm. Prices: 8 lei full ticket, 4 lei / 2 lei reduced tickets, 25 lei photo fee.

About Hagi Prodan House Museum

The Hagi Prodan House Museum belongs to the County Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova.

The house dates from 1785. It seems to be the only museum of its kind in the country that shows a 19th century merchant's house as it would have looked in those times. In 1953 the house was added to the list of architectural monuments. It contains elements of old Romanian architecture complemented with oriental ones. The history of the house says that it was given a dowry by Marita, who was to become the wife of the merchant Hagi Prodan. A painting of her is depicted in the first room on the left. Hagi Prodan was a wealthy merchant.

There are 3 rooms. On the left the living room and kitchen, on the right the bedroom, and at the end of the small hallway is what is called the sacnasium. In the painting there are animal motifs such as peacocks, the rooster, the hen with chickens, which signify family.

1. Beautiful house outside

While I waited in the street I took a few shots of the spectacular old house decorated with motifs on the exterior painting. We entered the courtyard, walked along the landscaped path leading to this gem.

Hagi Prodan Museum

Targovet House Museum

2. Dining room

Dining room has in the center a richly carved dark brown table surrounded by 6 beautifully carved chairs. The ceiling is covered with carved wood. In this room is also an old icon from Jerusalem, which belonged to Hagi Prodan.

Dining room

3. Kitchen

Kitchen it is full of accessories typical of those centuries: silver plates, ibrices, brass vessels.

Kitchen

4. The Sacnasium

The Sacnasium is the most ''oriental'' space of the house, where some ''Turkish cushion sofas'' and oriental art objects are displayed: a hookah, spice pots, a low table with mother-of-pearl inserts and an old Romanian carpet on the wall.

The Sacnasium

5. Bedroom

Bedroom displays a spectacularly carved bed and an icon above the head of the bed.

Bedroom

Personal conclusions

I liked that I was able to visit a well maintained museum that preserves the interior and objects of an old merchant's house. For what concerns the presentation/information/guidance from me a below average grade, for what the house museum presents a high grade. I recommend visiting this tourist attraction: the Hagi Prodan House Museum - the oldest house in Ploiesti!

All the best!

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