We take a look at historical Turkish baths and their stories, which are among the first symbols that come to mind when Turkish culture is mentioned.
Until today, Turkish baths have gained a wide place in our language, literature and music. Numerous baths have been built in civilization-rich Istanbul to date. Even though their numbers decrease, their functions differ, they change or collapse over time, they are one of the first symbols that come to mind when Turkish culture is mentioned. Although all the baths that have survived to this day are of unique beauty and texture, let’s warm ourselves up a little on these cold days and take a look at the Turkish baths that add color to Istanbul with their deep-rooted history.
A Hammam for Sultans: Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hammam
Haseki Hürrem Sultan Bath, located in Hagia Sophia Square, the apple of the eye of the city with seven hills, was built by the famous architect Mimar Sinan in 1556 by the sultan of the time, Suleiman the Magnificent. This bath, which has an important place in Turkish bath architecture, is the first building where the men’s and lady’s sections are located on the same axis. The fact that it is a double-domed bath on a single axis makes it privileged. This double bath differs from the classical Ottoman baths with its shape and 75 meters length. The bath, which was actively used from 1556 to 1910, has three sections: cold, warm and hot. The navel stone, on which Ottoman motifs are carved in the most beautiful way, is worth seeing. The bath, which once served the sultans, was used as a carpet market for a long time, but it was restored in 2008 in accordance with its original texture. In the bath, where guests are offered gold-plated bowls and 100 percent pure olive oil soaps, care and massage services such as Pir-ü Pak, Keyf-i Hamam, Zevk-i Sefa, Gelin Hamam are offered. Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamam, which can be visited by reservation, is open every day of the week between 8 am to 10 pm.
Çemberlitaş Bath with its Rich History
Çemberlitaş Bath was built by Hürrem Sultan’s son, Selim II, during his reign as his wife, Nurbanu Sultan, to generate income for the Valide-i Atik Complex. The construction date of the bath in Üsküdar is 1584. The bath, which is one of the masterpieces of Mimar Sinan, reveals the intelligence and innovative world of thought of the famous architect. There are Ottoman inscriptions on some of the core stones inside the Çemberlitaş Bath, which is also mentioned in Evliya Çelebi’s Travelogue. Its dome, decorated with elegant details, is another aspect worth seeing. While enjoying the bath, you can go on a fairytale journey and feel like you are in history with the light beams entering through the holes of the dome. It also has the title of the longest-running bath business, as it has not stopped serving since 1584.
