Kızlarağası Han, Ottoman caravanserai in Kemeraltı, Turkey.
Kızlarağası Han is a rectangular stone building from the Ottoman era with two floors arranged around a central courtyard. The complex features numerous galleries and arcades throughout, now containing shops that sell handicrafts, carpets, leather goods, silver jewelry, and traditional Turkish coffee.
Built in 1744 by Hacı Beşir Ağa during the Ottoman Empire, this structure served as a major trading hub near the port of Izmir. Merchants and travelers relied on this caravanserai to exchange and store goods during their journeys.
The building houses traditional artisan workshops where craftspeople create jewelry, calligraphy, and miniature art using methods passed down through generations. Walking through, you see these techniques practiced as living traditions rather than museum pieces.
The caravanserai is located within the Kemeraltı Market, making it easy to visit while exploring the surrounding neighborhood. Visitors should allow time to browse the shops and watch craftspeople at work in the courtyards and galleries.
The Bakır Bedesteni section originally housed copper workshops before later transforming into a trading center for silk goods arriving from Iran. This shift reflects how the site's economic purpose evolved over time to meet changing trade demands.
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