Kurshumli An

Kurshumli An (16th century)

Kurshumli An (16th century) is the biggest former caravan-seraglio a recognizable historical heritage of Skopje. It is supposed that the imposing Kurshumli An was built in the middle of 16th century.
It consisted of two parts – one as accommodation for traders and the goods, and the other the stall, the utility rooms and rooms for servants.
For a long period it served as collection place for traders and their caravans and it had important role in the development in the trade life in the city.
The role of lodging place remained till the end of the 19th century and then it was converted into prison. There is a belief that it obtained the name during the 19th century, due to roof made of lead.
The inner part of Kurshumli An is magnificent. Nowadays, rockery of archeological museum is located in the An, put in the cells of the ground floor.
Each cell consist of monuments originating by the same area and same period starting from 1st century BC till the late antique (4th century) when Macedonia was a Ramon province.