In the very heart of Sarajevo’s Bascarsija is located Morica Han, one of the most visited and most authentic monuments of Ottoman architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This unique caravanserai, built at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th century as part of Gazi Husrev-bey’s waqf, is the last preserved building of its kind in the country.
The great builder, Gazi Husrev-bey, was born around 1480 in Serres (Greece), where his father Ferhad-bey, originally from the area around Trebinje, was a governor. His mother was the daughter of Sultan Bayezid II. He grew up and was raised at the imperial court. He held the position of sanjak-bey of Bosnia three times.
By the buildings he raised in Sarajevo and the waqfs he left for the maintenance of his endowments, Gazi Husrev-bey is the greatest and most significant benefactor in BiH. He died in Sarajevo in 1541 and was buried in the “turbe” he had built during his lifetime in the courtyard of his mosque.
At the time of its greatest activity, as stated by Gazi Husrev-bey’s waqf, Morica Han could host a caravan of 300 travelers and 70 horses. The ground floor space was used for storing goods and housing horses, while the upper floor housed rooms for travelers and a large room for rest and conversation – a place where, over coffee, important discussions and decisions of Sarajevo’s notables and craftsmen were held.
The han changed names, mostly after its innkeepers. As early as 1659, the travel writer Evliya Celebi mentioned it as Hadzi Besir’s Han, while its current name dates from the first half of the 19th century, named after the tenants Mustafa-aga and Ibrahim-aga Moric.
Although it suffered damage from fires several times, including the great fire of December 1957, the han was each time restored in its original architectural style, preserving the spirit and beauty of past times.
Today, Morica Han lives on as a vibrant center of culture and craftsmanship. Within its walls are craft shops, associations, galleries, copy shops, as well as the famous city cafe “Divan,” known for Turkish tea and a pleasant atmosphere.
Visitors can also enjoy Persian rugs or get information from the tourist agency located within the han complex.
Regardless of the time of year, Morica Han radiates life, is visited by tourists from all over the world, and its coffeehouse tradition still gathers people eager for conversation, history, and good coffee, Federalna writes.
