Kapan Han, Ottoman caravanserai in Old Bazaar, Skopje, North Macedonia
Kapan Han is a caravanserai in Skopje's Old Bazaar featuring two levels with 44 guest rooms distributed across both floors. The structure includes dedicated areas for horses and merchants, served by separate ground-level and upper-floor entrances.
The building was constructed in the 15th century during the rule of Isa-Beg Isaković. It served as a revenue source for regional endowments through income generated from accommodating traveling merchants.
The name Kapan comes from an Arabic word for the scales that once measured goods at the entrance for merchants passing through. This reflects the building's role as a vital stop on ancient trade routes.
The building can be accessed through two separate entrances, one at street level and another on the upper floor. This layout allows visitors to explore different sections without having to pass through all areas.
Today a restaurant operates within these walls, allowing diners to eat in the same spaces that once hosted traveling merchants and their caravans. The centuries-old structure creates a setting where ancient trade history comes alive.
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