Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai

The Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai (Turkish: Öküz Mehmet Paşa Kervansarayı; Ottoman Turkish: اوکز محمد پاشا کاروانسرای ALA-LC: Öküz Mehmet Pâşâ Kârvânserây) is a caravanserai located in Kuşadası, Aydın Province, western Turkey, built by Ottoman statesman and military commander "Öküz" Mehmed Pasha (died 1619). After its renovation, the building is used as a hotel today.

The caravanserai was commissioned by Öküz Mehmed Pasha, who served as Governor of Ottoman Egypt and Grand Vizier. It was constructed between 1615 and 1618.

Constructed in the form of a fortress to meet the needs of the time, the caravanserai was used as customshouse.

The Directorate of Foundations started the renovation of the almost-ruined caravanserai in 1954 that continued until 1966. The cost of renovation totaled to ₺2.1 million (approx. US$0.21 million), not including the cost for nationalization of shanties on three sides of the ruined structure.

The caravanserai is a two-story building with thick walls around a rectangular courtyard of 28.50 m × 21.50 m (93.5 ft × 70.5 ft). The building's outside dimensions are 43.63 m × 51.00 m (143.14 ft × 167.32 ft). It is built in rubble masonry...