Büyük Valide Han, Ottoman caravanserai in Mercan district, Istanbul, Turkey.
Büyük Valide Han is a stone warehouse and inn with three internal courtyards arranged across multiple levels. The building contains numerous small rooms connected by vaulted corridors and stone staircases that wind through its structure.
The structure was built in 1651 by a powerful woman from the sultan's family who was mother to two rulers. It originally served as a major lodging place for merchants and their animals during commercial journeys.
The building shows how merchants and craftspeople once lived and worked together in shared spaces, and you can see this tradition continuing today. The textile traders and sewing workshops that now occupy the rooms follow patterns of commerce and craft that have existed here for centuries.
The building sits in a central location between the Grand Bazaar and the waterfront, making it easy to reach on foot. The rooftop area is normally accessible only with permission from the caretaker, and visitors should remember this is primarily an active workspace for craftspeople.
The third courtyard contains remnants of what researchers believe was an old Christian chapel, revealing multiple historical layers on this site. This section was once known by a different name that reflected the Persian merchants who worked and lived there for many years.
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