Small Caravanserai Explained

Small caravanserai
Native Name:Azerbaijani: Kiçik karvansaray
Building Type:Mausoleum
Address:Hagigat Rzayeva Street
Location City: Baku
Location Country: Azerbaijan
Location:Old City
Map Type:Azerbaijan
Coordinates:40.4637°N 49.9201°W
Completion Date:late XV – early XVI centuries
Status:Used as restaurant

The Small Cravanserai in Baku, Azerbaijan has a square shape and an inner quadrangular courtyard with cut corners. This caravanserai was built in the 12th century. There is a long balcony which surrounds the building of the caravanserai. The north and south entrances of the caravanserai are portal-shaped. During the Middle Ages, there was a main entrance from the sea. The caravanserai has a defensive construction and two floors on the southern side.[1] It is a monument of national importance. The caravanserai consisted of counters from the shopping street that did not have direct communication with the courtyard. However, it is believed that there used to be a functioning Madrasah nearby which was part of the Jameh (Juma) complex and the rooms of the caravanserai were considered for students studying in Madrasah.[2]

The caravanserai now features an "Art garden" which includes art galleries, several workshops of artisans and a restaurant of both national and European cuisines. Each room of the monument has been decorated by a different Azerbaijani artist.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Museums, Reserves, Galleries of Baku – National Tourism Promotion Bureau, 2017.
  2. http://www.icherisheher.gov.az/static,20/lang,az/#monument12 www.icherisheher.gov.az
  3. http://www.icherisheher.gov.az/static,40/lang,az www.icherisheher.gov.az