Cağaloğlu Hamamı:Turkey

Cağaloğlu Hamamı: By far the most spectacular of Istanbul's hamams; its steam rooms are lavishly arched and domed, and decorated with tulip tiles.

Çemberlitaş Hamamı: Built by the famous architect Sinan in 1584, this is a classic hamam experience.

The Cağaloğlu Hamam, constructed in 1741, is the last hamam to be built during the Ottoman Empire. It was constructed in Istanbul Eminonu, in Alemdar, on Hilal-i Ahmer street as a cifte public hamam to bring revenue for the library of Sultan Mahmud I the first situated inside the mosque of Ayasofya. When we take a look at the names of the head architects of that time we can say that it was begun by Suleyman Aga finished by Abdullah Aga. It is the last example of its kind to be built in Istanbul and is a successful hamam that is still operational in our time. The door of the women’s section is on a side street called Hamam while the mens' entrance is from the main road with two marble columns with classic stalactite capitals on both sides.

In time when the street was elevated, the mens’ section is reached by a staircase of 10 steps. The architecture of the door is contrary to eclectic Turkish style. On the tablet above the door is a long inscription of 7 lines and 28 verves.

Sultanahmet Hamamı: Granted, there is no belly stone and the 17th-century steam rooms smell faintly of mould, but come here for above-average massage and service.


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The most beautiful of the city’s hamams, historic Cağaloğlu Hamamı offers separate baths for men and women and a range of bath services. You’ll find a pleasant cafe as well as a shop selling quality soaps and other hamam accessories (the pistachio-oil soap is particularly fine). You don’t need to purchase a bath mitt unless you want to – as at most tourist hamams, the attendants will supply one if you haven’t brought your own.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/activities/health/cagaloglu-hamami#ixzz2GDhpX6WV

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d524121-Reviews-Cagaloglu_Hamami-Istanbul.html