Spa Profile: Hagia Sophia Hurrem Sultan Hammam

In our SPA Profile guide, this time you are invited to one of the vicinities of Istanbul with the richest history.

How does it sound to cleanse your soul along with your body in Sultanahmet location, a place made of esteemed cultural structures of Byzantine and Ottoman Empire and keep on with the day in a much more relaxed mood afterwards? In this article, we will talk about the Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam, where the historical textures and revitalizing effects of hammam are inspiringly combined with massage therapy opportunities.

Ambiance Integrating with Historical Texture

The mastermind behind the fascinating architecture of Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam is none other than Mimar Sinan, chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. The structure, which was built in the 16th century at the request of Hürrem Sultan, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, is located between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. This region takes on a more essential place in history, being the site where the old Zeuxippus baths are located.

The building, which had first been restored between 1957-1958 and used as a carpet bazaar until 2007, was then restored again in 2008 per its original architecture expending a large investment and put into service. One of the reasons why Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam is so special is it being a pioneer in Turkish bath architecture. Indeed, Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam, the first Turkish bath where the women and men sections are located on the same axis, preserves its traditional texture with special gold-plated bath bowls, exclusive loincloths respectively prepared for each guests and 100% pure olive oil soaps.

Time Travel with Hammam Experience

Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam offers her guests five different hammam rituals. Guests who wish to integrate the purification experience with a traditional soul hence opting for hammams, may select the time and content of the care per their conveniences in the Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam. The compatibility of the Turkish bath ritual names with the Ottoman spirit makes the experience much more historical.

Asl-ı Hammam offers a 30-minute hammam experience for those who want to take a short break during the day. Traditionally, the hammam practice begins with the guest getting rid of toxins by sweating in the hot private room. Then the process follows with getting rubbed with customary bath glove, which is an indispensable fundamental stage in Turkish baths. With the help of the bath glove, your skin gets purified and achieves a smooth touch. The last stage of the ritual is the foam application performed on the navel stone. For those who have a little more time, the 45-minute Pir-ü Pak care steps forward. The application in which the pores are opened with sweat and then the skin is purified with a scrub, is accompanied with a foam massage, along with a head and neck massage. That way, your body gets relieved of all stress and tension in an accelerated way.

Keyf-i Hammam, on the other hand, includes a moisturizing and firming whole-body clay mask with judas tree extract, in addition to the traditional stages of head, neck and whole-body foam massages, transforming your hammam ritual into a more comprehensive self-care experience. After an hour of relaxation, all that remains for you is to depart this historical atmosphere with a cotton-like skin and a rested mood.

Zevk-i Sefa invites you to comfort even with its name. After all the traditional hammam experience, an aromatherapy massage performed with judas tree essential oil takes you to a completely different world where you can relax tremendously. If you are saying that “I have time today and I want to take the day to myself”, the Ab-ı Hayat ritual is made for you! After 110 minutes of traditional hammam treatments, you are greeted with a full body clay mask and an aromatherapy massage. After your body is relieved of exhaustion, your skin is pampered with a facial massage and face mask.

The final touch is a foot massage with exclusive judas tree oil, to de-stress your feet carrying all the weight and tension of your body. Freshly sliced fruit and the use of a private dressing room are extra facilities provided. Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam bids you farewell with a “goodbye gift” after your holistic journey moments filled with purification and calmness.

As you may have noticed from the aforementioned bath rituals, the Judas tree plant has a very special place for Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam. So much so that in all treatments, Judas tree-based products specially produced for the Hürrem Sultan Hamam are included.

Return to Ourselves with Relaxing Massage Therapies

If you want to have your hammam experience more holistic and effective or just turn to a relaxing massage, Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam provides professional answers to your needs in this regard.

Aromatherapy Massage aims to remove toxins from the body, especially by activating the lymph system. To bodies prone to edema, implementation of aromatherapy massage minimizes fluid retention in the body.

Unfortunately, many factors that trigger stress may appear in every sphere of life. Especially for people who work at desk jobs, wrong proportion can cause intense back pain Anti-Stress Massage is applied with slow and rhythmical movements and brings relaxation to the tense muscles and tissues in your body.

Back Massage therapy focuses on weariness in the head, neck and shoulders. Light pressures are applied to these areas and thus the energy circulation is made healthier and more balanced. Perhaps the most suffering part of the body, the feet also deserve attention. In the Foot Massage therapy of Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam, together with the feet, the whole body and mind calms down and the energy flow gets regulated with such feeling of relaxation.

A Perfect Choice for Traditional Events

An atmosphere intertwined with the historical texture rise as favorite locations for special events, especially in recent years. Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam also opens her doors to pleasantly synergistic activities that involve sharing and celebration in unity, which take place in Turkish traditions as Bride’s Bath and Groom’s Bath.

Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam is a must-see rest stop for those who happen to visit Istanbul or set off to re-discover their city like a traveller. In this article, we brought to you the attractive texture and services of Hagia Sophia Hürrem Sultan Hammam, where you can purify your body and soul with traditional touches, as you once again fall in love with the city. 

For more guidance on Turkish bath culture and SPA services stay tuned to Spatopia !