thick, white foam that cover the en- tire body that fill you with a feeling of weightlessness. A head massage, hair washing, long rinsing with water, a careful embrace while you’re slow- ly emerging from a state of numb- ness, rubbed like a baby and smoth- ered in olive oil. They led me outside and placed me in a deck chair, giving me an Ayran yoghurt drink and spar- kling water. I had a desire to tell the girl who bathed me that I wanted to stay and to ask her if we could start the process all over again at least once, but I ultimately just thanked her endlessly... As I returned to reality, we dis- cussed the history of the hammam. It might date back to Roman and Byz- antine baths, but it was the Otto- mans who turned it into something much more intimate and important. That’s because hammams represent- ed centres of social life for centuries – places where people gathered to hold conversations and make prepa- rations for weddings, celebrations and spiritual cleansing. It is said that mothers would come to evaluate and select their future daughters-in-law. Water also has a special meaning in the Islamic tradition, as it is believed not only to cleanse the body, but al- so the spirit. And to this very day
that feeling remains the same, wheth- er you’re at a luxury resort near Bod- rum or in a traditional old hammam in Istanbul. Türkiye has generally become one of the world’s most in-demand well- ness destinations precisely because it still cherishes the idea of self-care as a ritual, and not an occasional indul- gence. From hot springs and spa re- sorts to traditional hammams, this entire tourism culture stems from a need to slow down. And perhaps that’s exactly what we find so attrac- tive – given the excessive tempo of our lives. Maybe that’s why the mo- ment when you lie down on a warm stone, with water slowly sliding over your hair and shoulders, seems al- most unreal. It’s as if you’ve brief- ly stepped away from your own life. And returned to the beginning, when everything was still possible... FAMOUS HAMMAMS OF ISTANBUL If you want to experience your first hammam in a place where this tradition has been nurtured to per- fection over centuries, you can fly di- rectly from Belgrade to Istanbul with Air Serbia in just an hour and a half. Because there are few cities of the world that preserve the hammam cul-
ture like Istanbul.
One of the most famous is the Çağaloğlu Hamam, which was estab- lished in 1741 and is often referred to as the last great hammam to be built in the Ottoman Empire. Its mar- ble halls, massive domes and foun- tains have enticed travellers, art- ists and aristocrats for centuries. It is said to have been enjoyed by the likes of Florence Nightingale, Franz Liszt and even Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It is also special due to the combina- tion of baroque and classic Ottoman styles, but also due to the feeling of having stepped straight into history. A completely different kind of luxury is provided at Hurrem Sul- tan Hammam, which occupies one of the city’s most beautiful locations: between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. It was built by famous Otto- man architect and engineer Mimar Si- nan in the 16 th century, at the behest of the wife of Suleiman the Magnifi- cent, who was one of the most pow- erful women in the Ottoman Em- pire. Following decades of neglect, this hammam has been restored and today combines history and luxury – from handmade towels to traditional ritu- als. One particularly interesting fact is that it was built on the site of the an- cient Baths of Zeuxippus, which orig- inated during the Byzantine period, meaning that centuries of different civilisations intertwine here. For many lovers of authentic ex- periences, the most beautiful is none- theless the Kılıç Ali Paşa Hammam. It was also designed by Sinan, for a fa- mous Ottoman navy admiral – a for- mer pirate who became one of the empire’s most important figures. The hammam has an almost cinematic look today: a huge central dome, with light pouring through small open- ings and white marble glistening un- der the steam. Many say that this is the best place to envisage how a real Ottoman hammam looked a few cen- turies ago. And perhaps that’s actually what makes Istanbul a special wellness des- tination. The hammam isn’t merely a tourist attraction here. It is part of the city’s culture as a ritual that has endured for centuries...
Wellness » Velnes | 101
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