 |
 |
| |
|
| |
Treat yourself to an afternoon at a hammam
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
No trip to Turkey is complete without a dip in one
of the beautiful spas, or ms, that can be found in almost any
major city.
After a long morning spent haggling in the bazaar or
going up and down stairs at opkapi palace, your body will cry out
for a visit to the warm waters and calming steam of the baths.
Public bath houses in Turkey have their genesis in the Roman
invasion who passed down the tradition to they Byzantines. The spas
are a perfect fit for the predominantly Islamic culture, however, as
the Koran calls for cleanliness of body and mind.
The hamam also
functions as a social gathering place for the local women and men.
One of the most famous spas in the world is Cagaloglu Hamam in
Istanbul. It is listed in the book "1000 Places to See Before You
Die". The beautiful white marble structure contains a domed steam
room and was built in 1741 under the reign of Sultan Mehmet I. Any
number of dignitaries, including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Franz Liszt and
Florence Nightingale have taken its waters.
The women bathe
separately from the men, and in days past, the penalty for a man
found in the womens section was death. Upon entering the bath, a
visitor receives a "Pestemal" which is a garment traditionally worn
in a hamam that is made of cotton and fringed.
Turkish cotton,
especially that used in towels and linens, is known the world over
for its quality and comfort and can be purchased very affordably.
In modern times, the spas are still utilized on a regular basis by
Turkish citizens and tourists alike. The entrance fee is modest and
you may stay as long as you like.
So the next time you are in
Turkey, treat yourself to an afternoon at a hammam, its a delight!
Suleymaniye Bath, +90 212 520 34 10 [8]. Sultan
Suleyman had this Hamam built by the famous Architect Sinan in 1550.
Architect Sinan build this hamam for himself. He used this hamam for
washing. Suleymaniye hamam is the only mixed hamam in Istanbul.
There are no different sections for each sex, thus the families may
comfortably enjoy this hamam together. Hamam also has two way free
shuttle services for the hotel guests if the booking comes through
their reception. Entry €31.50.
Cağaloğlu Bath, +90 212 522 24 24 [9]. The
Cağaloğlu hamam was constructed in 1741 and is the last hamam to be
built after a long period during the Ottoman Empire. It was
constructed in İstanbul Eminönü. It has separated sections. Popular
and normally visited by tourists. You can get a "service" which mean
one of the staff helps you get scrubbing, and the most expensive
option contain scrubbing AND massage. It should be said that the
atmosphere is very touristic, and everything has a price. Entry €20.
Cemberlitas Bath, +90 212 511 25 35 [10]. The
Cemberlitas Bath is located on Cemberlitas Square in the midst of
some of Istanbul's greatest monuments. It was also built by
architect Sinan in 1584. It has 2 sections, female and male. Entry
€15. (28 YTL for self-service, 40 for Turkish massage, 68 for
Turkish massage and oil massage).
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
<-Back
|
|
 |
|
CITIES
