Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai

Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai is a stone structure with two floors arranged around a rectangular courtyard, accessible through western and eastern entrances. The building contains 32 rooms positioned behind verandas, reflecting the typical layout of a historical trading facility.

Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha commissioned this building in 1561 under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to serve travelers on eastern trade routes. The facility held strategic importance for commerce flowing through Anatolia during the Ottoman period.

The building once served as a vital meeting point where merchants and craftspeople from distant regions gathered to trade goods and exchange knowledge. This commercial heritage remains visible today through the workshops inside that continue regional craft traditions.

The interior has been converted into about hundred workshops where local artisans sell their crafts, with jewelry made from Oltu stone being particularly common. Plan time to walk through the different workshop areas and watch craftspeople at work.

The western entrance features an office space built above the vaulted archway, thought to have been added later to accommodate the facility manager. This architectural addition demonstrates how the structure evolved to serve practical administrative needs over time.