Khan al-Khayyatin

Khan al-Khayyatin is a medieval trading building in Tripoli with a long main passage flanked by barrel-vaulted arcades on both sides. A series of transverse arches cross above the passage and open to the sky, allowing light to filter into the interior, while small merchant shops and storage rooms line the length of the walkway.

The structure was built in 1341 during the Mamluk era and functioned as a central marketplace where merchants could lodge and conduct business. Its construction incorporated recycled elements from earlier periods, including Roman granite columns and architectural fragments from Crusader structures that once stood in Tripoli.

The name Khan al-Khayyatin means 'tailors'' bazaar', and this craft tradition remains visible through the workshops and textile merchants that operate in its stalls today. This ongoing connection to clothing and textiles gives the building its working character and links its medieval past directly to daily activity.

The building is straightforward to explore on foot, with its main passage wide enough for comfortable walking and the shop fronts clearly visible along the way. Visitors will find the vaulted design provides welcome shade, especially helpful during the heat of the day when exploring the interior passages.

Unlike typical khans with central courtyards, this one is organized around a long, narrow passage with arches in sequence rather than a square layout. This linear arrangement creates a different rhythm of light and shadow that moves visitors steadily forward through the space in a way most khans do not.