Old Historical Bath

Old Historical Bath

The Old Hamam was built towards the end of the 15th century for the purpose of generating revenue in order to support the Ruh Mehmet Paşa Mosque in Üsküdar. The men’s section is located on Doğancılar Street and the women’s section is located next to the Hüsrev Ağa Mosque. It has also been known as the Historical Şifa Hamamı (Historical Cure Bath) and is a remarkable structure whose original shape has been protected through the ages. One enters into the men’s section of the historical bath through a hall covered with marble pavement. The hall leads to the Camekan, a court made of wood surrounded by small individual changing rooms. In addition to the changing rooms located on the left side, there are changing rooms upstairs. In the entry of the Halvet, a very hot bathing cubicle within the bathing complex, there are two water vessels made of marbel. On the oppside side of the halvet are seven shower baths, three of which are open and are internally covered by a half-domed vault, and four of which are covered with a full-domed vault. Furthermore, the bath is covered by a large dome as well as a modest navel stone (göbek taşı) which draws the attention of visitors under the dome of the Old Hamam. We have learned from an advertisement published in a newspaper in September 12, 1860 that the Historical bath was transfered to a single owner, and from another source, it we learn that it was also renovated. This bath is not in contradiction with Ottoman Architectural style. In particular, it has been serving for visitors, the great majority of whom are Turkish citizens.

Historical Galatasaray Bath

Historical Galatasaray Bath

The Galatasaray Hamam was built by Bayezit II in 1481 with the Galatasaray Külliyesi (complex of buildings adjacent to a mosque). It is located in the Galatasaray neighborhood of the Beyoğlu district, at the junction of Turnacıbaşı and Çapanoğlu streets in Istanbul. Although it has been said that the present Galatasaray Market was built during the reconstruction of Galatasaray Devshirme Recruits and the Palace School (Galatasaray İçoğlanları Kışlası) during the rule of Sultan Ahmet III,  some researchers have claimed that this is a baseless rumor. Instead, they support the argument that the Hamam was a part of Galatasaray Külliye . When it was restored in 1965, the dressing room was made of concrete blocks, a fountain was placed in the middle, a section of the hamam wall was covered with tile, and also a small women’s section was added. One enteres the cold room (soğukluk) from the dressing room. There are rubbing places (keselik) consisting of seven basins. One enters the hot room (harare),which is covered by large domes, from the cold room. In the hot room there is a navel stone (göbek taşı). On both sides of the door, there are two "halvets" (a very hot bathing cubicle in the bath) that are roofed by a dome. In addition, there are six sofas (a long room, onto which a number of rooms open) which contain more than 15 kurnas (a marble basin under a tap in a Turkish bath) of various sizes. The Galatasaray Hamam has made it to our times through continuous maintenance and restoration. It has been consistently serving domestic and foreign visitors.