Khan al-Wazir
خان الوزير
A large Ottoman caravanserai in old Aleppo between the Great Mosque and the Citadel, with a black-and-white façade and ornate windows.
Between the Great Mosque and the Citadel, in the heart of the souqs, stands Khan al-Wazir, one of the largest and finest caravanserais of old Aleppo, built in the late 17th century when the city was a leading Ottoman trade hub visited by merchants from Europe, Persia and India.
Its great portal is framed by alternating black and white courses and windows with finely carved stonework, mixing Mamluk traditions with Ottoman taste.
It was built in 1682 and is believed to have been the main market for cotton products in Aleppo.
Inside, a large open courtyard is surrounded by storerooms and stables below and merchants' rooms above along an arcaded gallery. Khans like this were the heart of Aleppo's economy, where deals were struck and silk, spices, textiles and soap were stored. Part of the Ancient City of Aleppo World Heritage property.
Note: photos may not reflect the site's current condition.
For the visitor
Location: 36.1999, 37.1592 · Open on the map
Photos
Photos: Dosseman — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) · Somar Samrah — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
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