In the old town of the Turkish capital Ankara, a hammam or Turkish bath offers a glimpse into history in its Ottoman ambience.

Öner Aydin, the owner of the Karacabey Hammam, said it is the oldest and largest hammam in Ankara, a small Ottoman city before it became the capital of the Turkish Republic in 1923, and which has been offering an authentic Turkish bathing experience for centuries.

“The construction of this historic bath began in 1427 and was completed in 1440. It has been in operation since then,” said Aydin. According to Aydin, the hammam was closed for some time before his company carried out repairs and resumed operations in 1989.

The Turkish bath usually consists of a spacious, round main steam room made of marble with high ceilings. It is heated by a stove, with hot air flowing through pipes under the floor.

In the center of the Karacabey steam bath there is a raised, round platform where guests can lie down and enjoy the heat and receive massages and scrubs.

Individual sinks with hot and cold water taps are built into the surrounding walls. Users can adjust the temperature as desired and pour water over themselves from copper bowls.

Hammams have lost popularity over time. Despite the growth of spa and wellness culture, many Turkish cities still have hammams, which were introduced by the Ottomans. However, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, interest in hammams in Turkey has increased significantly as people have become more health conscious.

According to Aydin, Turkish baths have many health benefits. “Hammams are crucial for health because the steam opens the pores, the exfoliation rejuvenates the body and the environment allows the body to breathe,” he said.

Visitors to the hammam usually wrap themselves in a traditional Turkish bath towel known as a “pestemal.”

If you prefer a foam massage and a good peeling, you can often use a special peeling glove called a “kese” to remove dead skin cells.

After the steam bath, bathers usually go to the relaxation room to cool down and relax, often while drinking a glass of Turkish tea or chatting with friends. The whole experience usually lasts up to two hours.

Turkish baths traditionally serve as communal spaces for socializing, relaxing and physical and mental recovery.

“Hammam means cleanliness, it is deeply rooted in our culture. For me it means relaxation and peace,” says Erdal Turkkan, a frequent visitor.

He believes that the experience of taking a shower at home is very different from visiting a hammam, and that people are returning to this tradition to escape the stress and hustle and bustle of modern life.

“Hamams are meeting places where people meet, get to know each other and discuss business matters,” said Aydin.