Turkey Guide
İstanbul
The Hamam of Roxelana
Opening time: Daily except Tues 9.30am–5pm
Price: Free
Address: Between the Sultanahmet Camii and Aya Sofya
The double-domed building is the Hamam of Roxelana (Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamami). Built by Mimar Sinan in 1556, it replaced the Byzantine baths of Zeuxippus on the same site and was named in honour of Süleyman's wife, Roxelana. The 75-metre-long hamam served the worshippers at the mosque of Aya Sofya. The hamam has been restored with stained-glass windows and varnished wooden doors with the original marble fountains in the changing rooms. The building now serves as a showroom for traditional handwoven carpets and kilims, which are for sale (at a price).