TEHRAN – Semnan’s cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts department has begun plans to reorganize the area surrounding the centuries-old Shah Abbasi caravanserai which is located in the north-central Iranian province.

Jalal Tajik, who presides over the department, on Sunday said the plan includes environmental landscaping measures such as creating green spaces and installing urban furniture, to be carried out in cooperation with the city’s municipal authorities.

Tajik said the Shah Abbasi caravanserai dates back to the Safavid era and was registered on Iran’s national heritage list in 1973. He added that the site was used as a prison for more than four decades.

He said the historical building was fully cleared in the summer of 2025 after the removal of walls and auxiliary structures, bringing the site back into public view for the first time in years.

Tajik said the reopening of the caravanserai has created conditions for restoring the historical identity of the surrounding area and for developing urban tourism in Semnan.

He added that the caravanserai is expected to be leased to the private sector through a public auction, under plans aimed at attracting investment for tourism use and long-term preservation.

The Shah Abbasi caravanserai in Semnan is one of hundreds of caravanserais built across Iran by order of Shah Abbas I, the Safavid ruler who reigned from 1588 to 1629.

 A caravanserai, also known as a caravansary, is a compound word combining "caravan" with "sara"; the former referring to a group of travelers and the latter meaning the building. These structures often boasted massive portals supported by elevated load-bearing walls. Guest rooms were constructed around the courtyard, with stables situated behind them and doors located in the corners of the yard.

The earliest caravanserais in Iran date back to the Achaemenid era (550 - 330 BC). Centuries later, during the reign of Shah Abbas I, a network of caravanserais was commissioned across the country. These roadside inns were strategically positioned along ancient caravan routes in the Muslim world, providing shelter for people, their goods, and animals.

AM