Gamblers Inn​

The Kumarcilar Han, also called the Gambler's Inn, is just 100 yards or so north of the Buyuk Han, in Asmaalti Square, It is presently closed and semi-derelict, waiting for renovation.

Much smaller than the Buyuk Han, the Kumarcilar Han is nonetheless typical of an Ottoman inner city commercial inn. It is not known exactly when the inn was built, but it is thought to be around the end of the 17th century. In the middle ages, merchants used to group themselves together according to their trades. The Gambler's Inn was originally known as the Violinist's or Fiddler's Inn. It's not known when, or indeed why, the name changed.

The Han is a two-storied building, originally having 56 rooms. Those on the upper story were used by the travelers, while those on the ground floor were used for their animals and belongings. On the ground floor, the rooms have stone floors and an external window. A stair leads to the upper story, where the floor is a marble. Some of the rooms have fireplaces. A monumental carved gate at the entrance dates to before the Ottoman conquest, and experts believe that the structure stands on a much earlier building, possibly the ruins of a monastery. This Han has been fully restored and is used as an attraction with cafes, restaurants, and arts and crafts shops.