Traditional Turkish Hammams

To visit Turkey and not to visit the Turkish bath (hammam) is equivalent to excluding the Eiffel Tower from the excursion route in Paris. Turkish hammam is more than a bath. This is a real pride of the eastern people.

The main distinctive feature of the Turkish bath is the maximum humidity. The temperature in such conditions is felt much stronger than in dry space. Therefore, in hammams, it is maintained at 45-60 ° C.

This microclimate is useful and pleasant for humans, and at the same time it does not have a dangerous stress effect on the body.

The temperature in hammams is maintained by heating systems built into the floor, walls and benches. Humidity creates a special device - steam generator. The latter is outside the bathhouse and transmits the generated steam through pipes into the steam room.

Natural stone, mosaics and ceramics are materials that are usually used in the design of hammams.

The traditional hammam ritual:

1 - Warming up the body

After entering the bathhouse, the visitor should get used to the new atmosphere: adjust his breath and warm the body.

2 - Pilling

When the body is steamed, it is the turn of peeling with a special mitten (kese) with a rough surface made of coconut fibre or natural wool. During this procedure, the skin gently gets rid of impurities and old cells, opens pores and improves blood circulation.

3 - Soap massage 

The cotton bag is whipped with olive soap and the resulting thick foam is soapy massage. During this stage, all the slags removed during the peeling are washed away and the tension in the muscles and joints is reduced.

4 - Olive massage

After taking water procedures, it is time for a relaxing massage, where natural oils are rubbed into the purified body. The skin is moisturized, nourished with beneficial trace elements, and the body and mind are extremely relaxed.

5 - Rest

The final stage is rest, during which you can have a cup of tea or coffee, while the body cools down to the usual temperature.