Suli An, Ottoman caravanserai in Old Bazaar, Skopje, North Macedonia.
Suli An is an Ottoman caravanserai located in Skopje's Old Bazaar, featuring a central courtyard surrounded by halls and stone walls. The structure showcases traditional architectural details of the period, with interconnected rooms and galleries arranged around the open court.
This caravanserai was built in the mid-15th century near the Serava River to shelter merchants traveling Balkan trade routes. Over centuries, its purpose evolved from hosting traders to eventually serving educational functions in the modern era.
The Faculty of Fine Arts has used this space since 1980, blending contemporary art education with the preservation of its historic structure. Today, students and artists move through these Ottoman halls, keeping the building active as a living workspace rather than just a museum piece.
The building sits within the Old Bazaar, accessible on foot through winding lanes and passageways. Early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be quieter and offer a more relaxed way to explore the courtyards and rooms.
The name derives from Turkish words meaning water inn, reflecting its original location beside a flowing river that has since shifted away. This water source was once central to why merchants chose to stop here during their journeys.
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