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The bazaar area in the historic city center of Bursa, Turkey, is home to several impressive Ottoman caravanserais. They’re included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bursa.
Each caravanserai, or han, is a two-story rectangular building with an open courtyard that can be accessed from the network of bazaars running through the area. Most were built in the 15th century for the silk trade, and just about each one is full of shops selling all kinds of goods. They usually have at least one café or restaurant in the center, making some caravanserais a great place to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.
Tuz Han
Working from east to west through the bazaar area, the first caravanserai you’ll come to is Tuz Han (Salt Han), which is located along the Salt Bazaar (Tuz Pazarı). It’s one of the smallest caravanserais in Bursa and was built between 1454 and 1455 by Umur Bey. There are 17 rooms on the ground level and 18 rooms upstairs. Tuz Han was restored in 2007.
Fidan Han
Continuing along the road, it turns into Long Bazaar (Uzun Çarşı), where you can access Fidan Han (Sapling Han). It was built around 1470 by Mahmud Pasha Angelović (1420-1474), who served twice as Grand Vizier under Mehmed the Conqueror. Income from Fidan Han was dedicated to the charitable foundation of the Mahmud Pasha Mosque, which is in the Mahmutpaşa neighborhood of Istanbul.
Originally known as Mahmud Pasha Han, it’s one of the largest caravanserais in Bursa. There are 48 shops on the ground floor and 50 on the upper floor. The structure has a large courtyard with a fountain and a raised mosque in the center. A smaller courtyard to the east that once held stables, but it hasn’t survived to this day.
Fidan Han is named for the saplings that were once sold there. It was also known as the Straw Market Han (Saman Pazarı Han) because it was built in the area that was once a straw market. In the 1650s, it was full of weavers.
Fidan Han has one of the best atmospheres of all the hans in the bazaar area. The courtyard is filled with outdoor cafés and restaurants serving Turkish specialties.
Koza Han
Across the street is Koza Han (Cocoon Han), which was built between 1489 and 1491. It was commissioned by Sultan Bayezid II and the architect was Abdül ula bin Pulad Şah. Koza Han provided income for the Bayezid II Mosque complex in Istanbul.
Like Fidan Han, Koza Han is one of the largest caravanserais in Bursa. The main entrance to the ground level is through a monumental portal along Long Bazaar while another entrance to the upper level is on Gazi Orhan Park (Gazi Orhan Parkı).
There are 50 rooms on the ground floor and 52 on the upper floor. They surround a large central courtyard with a fountain and small elevated mosque in the center. Stables and warehouses were situated to the east.
Koza Han was the center of the city’s silk trade, and has shops selling silk products to this day. It was also where silk cocoons themselves were sold, giving the building its name. Koza Han was such an important building, the commercial agent of the Medici family of Florence had his office there in the early 16th century.
Koza Han has one of the liveliest atmosphere of all the caravanserais in the bazaar area. The courtyard is packed with cafés, tea gardens, and restaurants, and there are usually several people shopping in the stores, especially for silk products.
Emir Han
Emir Han sits between the Grand Mosque and Covered Bazaar. It was built by Sultan Orhan as part of the Orhan Gazi Mosque complex between 1339 and 1340, and was known as the first Ottoman bedesten.
There were 36 rooms on the ground floor used as warehouses, and 38 rooms on the upper floor with windows and fireplaces. The rooms surround a large courtyard with an octagonal pool at the center.
Emir Han was restored between 1959 and 1965 after a major fire. Today, its shops sell religious books and pilgrimage materials, while cafés operate in the courtyard.
Geyve Han
Attached to the east side of the Bedesten is Geyve Han. It was built in the early 15th century by Hacı İvaz Pasha (d. 1428), who gifted it to Sultan Mehmed I to provide income for the Green Mosque complex.
A 12-sided marble fountain sits at the center of the courtyard. There are 26 rooms on the ground level and 30 on the upper level. The han was originally named after Hacı İvaz Pasha and took its current name in the 17th century. Today, most of the shops sell textiles.
Eski Ipek Han
Across the street from the east side of the Bedesten is Eski Ipek Han (Old Silk Han). It was built in the early 15th century by Sultan Mehmed I to provide income for the Green Mosque complex. The architect is believed to be Hacı İvaz Pasha.
Eski Ipek Han has 39 shops on the ground floor and 42 on the upper floor. The large central courtyard features an octagonal marble fountain.
The initial purpose of Eski Ipek Han was to provide space for silk merchants. Today, it hosts various textile shops selling clothing, drapes, and fabrics.
Pirinç Han
Just north of Eski Ipek Han is Pirinç Han (Rice Han). It was built by Sultan Bayezid II between 1490 and 1508 in order to provide income for the Bayezid II Mosque complex in Istanbul. The architects were Yakup Şah bin Sultan Şah and Ali bin Abdullah.
38 rooms on the ground floor and 48 on the upper floor surround the large central courtyard. Rice and other grains were sold there, and it took its current name in the 17th century. Until the late 1970s, there were cobblers, leather workers, and silk workers in the caravanserai.
Pirinç Han underwent a long restoration between 1983 and 2004. Today, there are cafés and restaurants on the lower floor and shops and offices on the upper floor.
Balibey Han
Balibey Han is to the west of the bazaar area of the historic center of Bursa. It was built in the late 15th century. It has 64 rooms and was the first three-story caravanserai in the Ottoman Empire. Balibey Han has lost its original appearance. It was restored from 2006 to 2008 and has hosted a handicraft bazaar since then.
