Forgotten Giants of the Desert: The Race to Save Assiut’s Centuries-Old Caravanserais

Since the Ottoman era, Assiut has been an important commercial hub in Upper Egypt, with caravans passing through on their way to Sudan via the Darb al-Arba’in route, and a destination for merchants from around the world. The city has retained its commercial status over time, with the caravanserais of Lutfi, Shalabi, and Thabit standing in the narrow alleys of Al-Qaisariya as living witnesses to a history spanning more than three centuries. With their Islamic architecture and antique decorative features, these caravanserais tell the story of a city that was once a thriving center of trade and urban development in Upper Egypt. Today, however, they suffer from neglect and need saving before they are forever erased from the city’s memory.