Luxuriate in a Turkish bath

A hammam, often known as a Turkish bath, is a sort of steam bath or a public bath connected with the Islamic culture. It is an important aspect of Muslim culture, having been acquired from the Roman thermae model. When most households lacked indoor plumbing, hamams (also known as Turkish baths in English) served an important function as a place to clean and socialize. Today, they're more of a special-occasion venue, visited by visitors than than residents, but they're still a luxury well worth indulging in.

In a contemporary hammam, guests strip while wearing a modesty garment or loincloth and continue into increasingly hotter chambers, causing perspiration. They are then cleansed with soap and rigorous rubbing by male or female employees (depending on the gender of the guest), before being rinsed in warm water. Bathers, unlike in Roman or Greek baths, normally wash themselves with flowing water rather than immersing themselves in standing water since this is a requirement of Islam, but immersion in a pool used to be traditional in some locations such as Iran's hammams. While most hammams work in a similar manner, there are notable regional variances in usage and construction.

The whole treatment includes a scrub and massage by a same-gender attendant, although you may also soak in their steamy chambers if you like. The grandest hamams, such as Istanbul's Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam, Caalolu Hamam, and Klç Ali Paşa Hamam, are a feast for the eyes as well as the body, with their marble-covered interiors and sky-lit domes. Hamams like Eski Kaplca and Yeni Kaplca in the former Ottoman city of Bursa contain pools supplied by the area's natural hot springs.