Hamam — the bath tradition of Istanbul

The name of Turkish bath «hamam» comes from Arabic word «ham», meaning - «hot». The traditional bath is known for its curative effect, is a pleasure, which every guest of Istanbul should try.

The history of Hamam

Almost in every Turkish village you can find a hamam. There are lots of them in Istanbul — the oldest sultans’ bath in Istanbul — Cemberlitas is still working. Hamam Cemberlitas is surrounded by numerous greatest monuments of Istanbul, so it is the best place to see the Turkish bath in the city. In the capital of Turkey — Ankara, there are about one hundred hamams. In Bursa city there are located the so-called «Old bathes», which were built still during the period of Justinian and are considered the most beautiful bathes of Turkey.
According to many doctors, «hamam» has a good influence on human organism. The first Turkish bathes in Europe appeared in Germany, England, and America in XIX century. At that time it was considered that Turkish bathes can cure many illnesses. Many specialists believed that they helped curing cold, asthma, fever, and cholera.

Good for body and mind

Turkish bath is not only the place where you can wash yourself, but also improve your health. Hamam came into Turkish everyday life in a wonderful way. Here everyone is equal : rich and poor, young and old, beautiful and not very much — for a certain period of time everyone becomes free from the outer world, beyond the walls of hamam. In olden times Turkish women had the right of visiting hamam without limits — this was one of the main generally acknowledged women’s rights.

The very procedure of hamam consists of five steps — warming the body, active massage, peeling skin with the help of a coarse mitten, soaping and washing, and then — relaxation. Telak and barber helped people pass these five stages in hamam.

The peculiarity of hamam is in its temperature conditions, which vary from +30 to +55°С. It is ideal for those who does not like or bear high temperatures. The dampness of the steam room makes up 100%, but anyway, it is easy to bear. This warm steam is the main secret of Turkish bath. It provides body with moisture, clears skin pores, lungs, and «washes» the whole organism. And in combination with traditional procedures it gives the feeling of a real heavenly bliss.