Kızlaragası Han

The Kızlaragası Han is the most impressive surviving Ottoman commercial building in İzmir, a two-storey caravanserai built around a central courtyard that has operated continuously since 1744. The ground floor contains small shops selling silver jewellery, carpets, copper goods, and handicrafts; the upper gallery is accessible and gives a good view of the courtyard below.

The han has been sensitively restored and is one of the most pleasant spaces in Kemeraltı — a relief from the bustle of the surrounding streets. A small open-air café operates in the courtyard. This is the best place in İzmir to buy traditional handicrafts, though bargaining is expected.

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A story
The han was built in 1744 by Hacı Mehmet Ağa, the chief eunuch of the Ottoman imperial palace — his title, Kızlarağası (chief eunuch of the harem), gave the building its name. The income from the han was designated as a charitable endowment (vakıf) to support a mosque and school. The combination of commerce and charity embedded in the Ottoman vakıf system meant that buildings like this served as both commercial centres and social welfare institutions.