The Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai, located in Kuşadası, Turkey, is a magnificent example of Ottoman roadside architecture, built to support maritime and terrestrial trade. It was commissioned by the powerful statesman Öküz Mehmed Pasha, who served as both Governor of Egypt and Grand Vizier, and was constructed between 1615 and 1618.
Designed like a small fortress, the structure features thick, high rubble stone walls, giving it a distinctive, defensive appearance. It centers around a rectangular courtyard, originally featuring a fountain and small mosque. The two-story building offered rooms, or hujras, for travelers and their animals, functioning both as an inn and, due to its strategic location near the pier, as a customs house for checking goods entering the port.
The main entrance is a grand, marble-clad arched doorway facing north towards the sea. Over the centuries, it underwent various restorations. Notably, it was restored in the 1960s and later converted into a hotel, blending historical ambiance with modern amenities. Today, the restored caravanserai often hosts shops, cafes, and cultural events, allowing visitors to step back into the bustling commercial life of the 17th-century Aegean coast.
