Istanbul Turkish Bath

Cağaloğlu Turkish Bath: A Timeless Journey into Ottoman Luxury
The Cağaloğlu Turkish Bath (Cağaloğlu Hamamı) is one of the most renowned and historic Turkish baths in Istanbul. Located in the heart of the city’s old town near the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, it offers visitors an authentic and luxurious hammam experience that reflects centuries of Ottoman culture and tradition.

A History of Elegance
Built in 1741 during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I, the Cağaloğlu Turkish Bath is the last major bathhouse constructed during the Ottoman Empire. Its creation was intended to generate revenue for a library within the Hagia Sophia complex, a common practice during that time. This architectural gem is a fusion of Baroque and classical Ottoman styles, making it unique among Istanbul’s historic bathhouses.

Located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, specifically on Prof. Kazım İsmail Gürkan Street in Alemdar, it was designed as a çifte (double) public bath to generate income for the library of Sultan Mahmud I, housed within the Ayasofya Mosque complex. Historical records suggest that the project was initiated by Süleyman Ağa and completed by Abdullah Ağa, two prominent architects of the era. This hamam is notable for being the final example of its kind in Istanbul and remains operational to this day. The women’s entrance is situated on a side street known as Hamam Street, while the men’s entrance is on the main road, framed by two marble columns featuring classical stalactite capitals.

Over time, as the street level rose, the men’s section of the hamam became accessible via a staircase of 10 steps. The door’s architectural design deviates from the traditional eclectic Turkish style. Above the door, a tablet bears an intricate inscription of 28 verses spread across seven lines. The spacious and high camegah is seamlessly connected to the large dome by segmented trumpet-like vault panels at the corners. At the center of the space is a pool with an artistically crafted water jet. The windows, arranged in groups of three between the vault panels, provide light, while a lantern atop the dome ensures additional illumination.

The camekan features a şirvan with rooms for undressing. From the camekan, the soğukluk is accessed through a double door and is covered by seven barrel vaults and a small half-sphere dome. These domes rest on arches supported by columns. In the sıcaklık, eight marble columns uphold the central dome, connected by eight arches. At the center lies the marble göbektaşı, encircled by four corner halvets and three sofas positioned between them. The design of the undressing room in the women’s section and the men’s camekan differs from the classic layout.

The transition from the camekan to the soğukluk is also unique, divided into three sections by two columns, with a dome crowning the central area. The sıcaklık design mirrors that of the men’s section, and the külhan (furnace room) extends behind the walls of both heat rooms, serving as the source of warmth.

One of our folk poets, Bitlisli Ali, had a remarkable experience at this hamam, where he initially worked as a külhancı (stoker) and later as a tellak (masseur). In a dream, a 70-year-old white-bearded sheikh appeared, instructing him to visit a hamam and wash a tellak. At that time, the hamam where Ali worked was owned by Hacı Mustafa, and the külhancı was a Muslim. The sheikh chose this particular hamam, and after washing Bitlisli Ali, he gifted him a piece of gold. Ali treasured the gold as a talisman for good luck and never spent it during his lifetime.

According to historical records of company establishments, the Cağaloğlu Hamam, built in 1741, is considered the oldest Turkish business still in operation today. The renowned traveler Evliya Çelebi notes that in the latter half of the 17th century, Istanbul housed 300 hamams—150 large and 150 small. These hamams were built to serve workers engaged in the construction of various charitable foundations. The revenue generated by the hamams was used to pay workers’ salaries and maintain the associated buildings.