Welcome to our website, where we share a glimpse of our beautiful estate in the heart of the ancient old town of Akre. Our family has been living in this area for generations. In 1992, with the establishment of the no-fly Zone and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, our father, Tariq Aqrawi, decided to rebuild our family home. Despite the difficult conditions caused by decades of war and economic hardship, he employed only local workers to support the community and designed the house himself. He monitored the construction of his house as an engineer by education. Our parents, Shirin Kittani and Tariq Aqrawi, have dedicated their lives to building bridges between their heritage and the international community. They were always safeguarding their people’s language, history, culture, and background, given the ethnic and cultural persecution they faced, especially in the 20th century, due to dictatorial regimes such as Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

Today, our beloved Villa Kendela is our second family home since we are spread over three continents. It has become a popular attraction for local & international visitors all year, especially during the Kurdish Newroz Celebrations. The villa offers 360-degree views of the unique celebration and traditions of the city, while hikers and backpackers from all over the world enjoy it as a pit stop, rest, or overnight stay. Recently, the house and our father, were featured in the front cover story of the New York Magazine “Building the First Long Distance Hiking Trail in Kurdistan,” which highlighted a beautiful hikers initiative by the Abraham Path called the Zagros Trail.

Next to Villa Kendela, you'll find Akre's first-of-its-kind private museum, hosted in a 200-year-old building that was restored with private family funds under the guidance of Tariq Aqrawi. The museum offers a glimpse into the past of Akrê's old town people and its history. Rooms are also available for an overnight stay upon request and availability. The museum premises and the Villa’s garden are ideal spaces for seminars, workshops, and art exhibitions.

We invite you to explore our website and learn more about our family's story, our beautiful estate, and the unique cultural heritage of the ancient town of Akre. Or you could grab your hiking gear and see for yourself.

Xêr hatin hevalno - Yours, Perixan and Meme Alan