Caravanserai

A fortified inn of the trade routes of the Islamic world, organised around a vast interior courtyard ringed by stables, storerooms and chambers. The caravanserai sheltered caravans, merchants and their animals along the Silk and Spice routes. These robust buildings, punctuating Anatolia, Persia and Central Asia, are frequently restored and converted into heritage hotels of strong historical resonance, their courtyards becoming dramatic central spaces for guests.