The Outer Portal
Stand before the 13-meter high entrance, a masterpiece of Seljuk stonemasonry.
The Sultanhani Caravanserai was constructed during the "Golden Age" of the Seljuk Empire. Sultan Alaattin Keykubat I commissioned the famous architect Muhammad bin Khalwan al-Dimashqi to build a structure that would demonstrate the power and wealth of the Sultanate while fostering international trade. After a fire partially damaged the building in 1278, it was expanded and restored by the governor Seraceddin Ahmed, making it even more grand than the original.
The layout is a classic example of the Anatolian Caravanserai: an open courtyard for use during the pleasant summer months and a covered, vaulted section for the harsh, snowy winters of the central plateau. The stonework is predominantly local marble and limestone, carved with "rinceau" patterns and symbolic motifs that represent the eternal nature of the universe.
Historically, Sultanhani was more than just an inn; it was a hub of cultural exchange. Here, Persian poets, Chinese silk merchants, and European diplomats shared meals and stories. This exchange of ideas was just as important as the exchange of goods, making the caravanserai a vital link in the chain of human civilization between the East and the Mediterranean.
