Çemberlitaş Hamamı / Historical Turkish Bath buit by Sinan 1584

Located in the heart of Istanbul on Divanyolu Street, Çemberlitaş Hamamı was commissioned in 1584 by Nurbanu Sultan—consort of Sultan Selim II and mother of Sultan Murad III—as a charitable endowment for the Valide-i Atik Complex in Üsküdar. According to the architectural chronicle Tuhfetü’l-Mimârin, the structure was designed by the renowned imperial architect Mimar Sinan.

Çemberlitaş Hamamı is a classical example of a double (çifte) hamam, with separate but identical sections for men and women. While the men’s entrance is on Vezir Hanı Street, the women’s entrance—originally on Divanyolu Street—was altered during street expansion works in 1868. Today, both sections share the same entrance, with internal access to their respective areas.

The hamam features traditional elements such as domed dressing areas (soyunmalık), triple-domed intermediate rooms (ılıklık), and intricately designed hot rooms (sıcaklık). The hot room departs from standard Ottoman bath layouts, showcasing Sinan’s architectural innovation. Twelve columns form a polygonal central space within a square layout, with corner alcoves (halvets), ornate marble screens, poetic inscriptions, and a prominent central marble platform (göbek taşı) under a grand dome pierced with light-filtering glass insets.

With its refined design, structural elegance, and timeless serenity, Çemberlitaş Hamamı remains a remarkable example of Sinan’s late architectural mastery. Today, it continues to attract academics, photographers, filmmakers, and cultural enthusiasts from around the world.