Khan Murjan is a medieval caravanserai built in the 14th century in the commercial heart of old Baghdad, and its extraordinary interior is one of the finest pieces of Islamic architecture in Iraq. The inner courtyard is roofed by a sequence of massive brick arches rising 13 metres, creating a dramatic, shadowed space that once sheltered merchants arriving from across the Islamic world.
The building was used as a restaurant and sometimes as a cultural venue in recent decades, and it stands close to Al-Mutanabbi Street in the old city quarter. The architecture alone justifies a visit — the brickwork is meticulous, the proportions are startling, and the building has survived centuries of conflict and neglect with its essential character intact.