Istanbul is seeing a revival of Hammam culture

The Zeyrek Cinili Hammam in Istanbul, built 500 years ago during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent by the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, has reopened after a meticulous 13-year restoration project that uncovered several Byzantine cisterns beneath it.

Beril Gur Tanyeli, the museum manager, explained: "The restoration somehow turned into an archaeological dig," providing insight into how the hammam once looked, as reported by The Hindu. She added that about 3,000 pieces of missing tiles were found during the restoration, which helped solve the puzzle of why the bath was named "Cinili"—Turkish for "covered with tiles."

The beautiful Iznik tiles that once lined the hammam's walls were exclusively produced for the Zeyrek Cinili Hammam and have no equivalent in other bathhouses, according to Al-Monitor. Although many of these tiles were damaged by fires or earthquakes, or sold to European antique dealers in the 19th century, some are still visible in the hammam.

The restoration also revealed several Byzantine cisterns beneath the structure. Tanyeli noted: "It is believed that Sinan, the architect, chose to install the hammam on the cisterns, using them as a foundation and, of course, as a source of water supply," according to Al-Monitor.

The revival of the Zeyrek Cinili Hammam is part of a broader resurgence of ancient ritual bathing traditions in Istanbul. Many hammams are being restored to revive this age-old practice, becoming favorites among both tourists and locals. According to La República, the tradition has survived until today, although hammams fell out of use in Turkey with the advent of running water.

Elizabet Kurumlu, an Istanbul-based hammam expert and guide, observed: "The last 15 years or so, I see that there's a huge uprise again, especially among the young people," as reported by Hurriyet Daily News [https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-hammams-see-revival-as-youth-tourists-embrace-tradition-201476]. She noted that all the hammams are "definitely full," referencing not only well-known historical hammams but also smaller, lesser-known bathhouses.

Kurumlu explained that the resurgence began with henna parties: "Young girls want to get the henna parties, this is like our bridal party in Türkiye... You come to a hammam and you have your hand dyed with a henna. It's a very old tradition, and I see that now, it's back on the scene," according to Hurriyet Daily News. She added, "We definitely need more hammams, that's for sure."

The Hürrem Sultan Hammam, designed by Mimar Sinan at the request of Hürrem Sultan, the wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, is another example of a historic bathhouse experiencing renewed interest, as noted by Hurriyet Daily News. Despite the passage of centuries, the hammam's modest charm, arched windows, and iconic dome remain impressive.

Nihat Katipzadeler, a board member of Hürrem Sultan Hammam, highlighted the role of social media in amplifying the Turkish bath experience: "Young people have started to see content about Turkish baths more frequently on social media platforms due to social media and digitalization," he said. He noted that tourists and locals sharing hammam experiences on platforms like Instagram and YouTube are helping this culture reach a wider audience.

Katipzadeler added that Turkish baths have become a major attraction for international visitors, whose interest helps preserve the bath culture. He stated, "Hammams, which are an important part of Turkish culture, have started to gain renewed interest as a part of this heritage. Young people prefer to go to baths to take care of their cultural heritage and experience it."

During the Ottoman Empire, hammams were central to society, serving as places of cleansing, relaxation, and social life. The ritual of bathing symbolized both bodily cleanliness and purity of soul, while also emphasizing the importance of ablution in Islam.

In the past, baths were also places for celebrating births and weddings. Hammam scenes were a mainstay of old Turkish films, depicting them as free spaces where women not only bathed but also socialized, ate, drank, and even danced, according to Arab News.

Today, the tradition lives on, although it is now mostly perpetuated by tourists. Manolya Gokgoz, who promotes the Çemberlitaş Hammam, another 16th-century bathhouse built by Sinan, lamented: "In the past, we used to go to the hammam with our mothers and grandmothers. Now 70 percent of our customers are foreign tourists and 30 percent locals," as reported by Al-Monitor.

Gokgoz believes the tradition should be preserved: "Hammam is not a luxury, but a need," she stated. "Yes, it's not like in the past because we have hot water at our fingertips, but we need to keep this tradition alive," according to Al-Monitor.

Celebrities, both Turkish and international, often visit Çemberlitaş Hammam. The latest was Spanish actor Pedro Alonso, known for his role as Berlin in the Netflix hit "Money Heist," who visited in September, as noted by Al-Monitor.

The full hammam experience, which allows bathers to relax in hot, warm, or cool pools alongside extras like massages or peeling, has become expensive, with the basic service costing around $100, according to France 24.

Despite the costs, the renewed interest in hammams is seen as a way to connect with cultural heritage. Archaeologist Gürol Tali believes that restoring historical baths and their regular use are perhaps the most effective way to transmit this heritage to future generations, as reported by La Croix. He explained: "The baths served not only to wash but also to socialize, relax, heal, and celebrate certain special events," with rituals for brides, soldiers, and boys recently circumcised.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq