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Sa'in Caravanserai
Sa'in Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای صائین) is a caravanserai located 10 kilometers along the old road from Nir County to Sarab in the northwest of Iran. Sa'in Caravanserai is placed in a snowy and cold pass known as Sa'in. The caravanserai dates back to the Safavid era, built on the orders of Shah Abbas I, with architecture suitable for this region, which is one of the snowiest passes in Iran. Unlike the typical architecture of the Safavid period, this caravanserai was constructed with stone, indicating the significant importance of this route during that time, especially given its location in a high and snowy pass.[1][2] LayoutThis caravanserai, like others, features an entrance door and several rooms constructed from stone and mortar, taking advantage of the abundant stone in the surrounding area and the challenges of resource supply, as well as the durability and strength of the rocks in this region.[1] The caravanserai is completely enclosed and covered, designed this way due to the extremely cold climate of the area, which experiences heavy snowfall and rainfall. It was specifically designed to withstand fierce winds, spring and autumn hail, as well as snow and cold.[1] The Sa'in Caravanserai has large stone columns that are built in a non-parallel manner to serve as windbreaks. There are only two windows in the structure, and they are so small that during heavy snowfall and blizzards, it is possible to cover all these openings with minimal equipment, preventing cold air from entering the caravanserai.[1] The design of this caravanserai is completely compatible with the climate and local conditions, as the width and height of the entrances to the living spaces inside have been minimized, allowing them to be easily blocked with minimal materials to prevent the intrusion of cold and snowdrifts inside.[3] The skylights of this caravanserai have been designed to the minimum size, effectively facilitating air exchange when needed and providing adequate lighting for the interior spaces. The entrances to the connecting spaces within the center of the structure are slightly larger compared to the side spaces, allowing the pack animals that accompany and are used by the travelers to take shelter inside as well.[3] UNESCO World HeritageOn September 17, 2023, during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this caravanserai, along with 53 other caravanserais, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.[4][5] References
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