The Köprülü family holds a distinct significance in the history of İzmir. The period known in Ottoman history as the “Köprülü Era,” from 1656 to 1683, was when the state consolidated its power. This strengthening of administrative, financial, and military structures also had an impact on İzmir. The first reflection of the Köprülü Era in İzmir was the construction of the Sancak Castle. Built under the orders of Grand Vizier Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa, the Sancak Castle was erected at the narrowest point of the gulf. As trade in İzmir expanded, stricter measures were needed to prevent ships from leaving the port without paying taxes. This castle played a crucial role not only in ensuring the security of the city but also in safeguarding tax revenues.
The increased tax revenues resulting from the castle must have led the capital to better understand İzmir’s commercial potential, as one of the most significant developments confirming this was the construction of the Büyük Vezir Hanı and Küçük Vezir Hanı.
The Büyük Vezir Hanı, the most magnificent han in İzmir, was one of the key commercial centers from its completion in 1675 until it was destroyed in the Great Fire of İzmir in 1922. Located near the sea, where Hisar Mosque (Hisar Camii) and the former service building of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality now stand, Büyük Vezir Hanı was a typical example of Ottoman hans with courtyard, built as a two-story structure. It had 106 rooms, 52 on the first floor and 54 on the second. Considering that the western facade facing the sea measured 80 meters, the eastern facade 76 meters, and the other sides 70 meters, one can understand the grandeur of this structure. The construction of such a large han is a testament to the scale of commercial activity in İzmir at the time.
Each room in the han was of equal size and covered with a dome, giving the building a symmetrical architectural design. Additionally, the Büyük Vezir Hanı originally featured 20 shops along its front facade. For its first 150 years, it had direct access to the sea and primarily served camel caravans. As the coastline receded over time, the han gradually lost its original function, and its rooms, initially used for accommodation and storage, were later converted into offices. Consequently, the han evolved from a traditional lodging and trade center into an early example of a modern business hub.
The construction of the Küçük Vezir Hanı began in 1675, the year the Büyük Vezir Hanı was completed, and was opened for service in 1678. Like its larger counterpart, the Küçük Vezir Hanı was located near Hisar Mosque. Between the two hans stood Küpecioğlu Hanı. While the Büyük Vezir Hanı had a square layout, the Küçük Vezir Hanı was built in an irregular rectangular shape. It contained 35 rooms, with 17 on the first floor and 18 on the second. Like the Büyük Vezir Hanı, the Küçük Vezir Hanı originally served camel caravans while it was connected to the sea. However, as the coastline shifted, it was gradually repurposed as an office space for various professions, following the transformation seen in other hans in the area. It was ultimately destroyed, along with many other hans, in the Great Fire of İzmir in 1922.