Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı

Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı, also known as Haseki Hürrem Sultan Turkish Bath, is located between Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It’s said that the bath stands where the ancient Zeuxippus Publicbaths had standed before.

It’s originally built by the architect Sinan in 1556 for Hürrem Sultan, also known as Roxelana, who was beloved wife of Suleiman the Magnificent and mother of Sultan Selim II. She gained great power and played active role in state affairs through her husband, Suleiman the Magnificent. She’s mostly known for the death sentence of Prince Mustafa who had been expected successor for throne by Suleiman the Magnificent.

Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı is a great example of classical Ottoman bath. It was active bath until 1910 when it was closed for decades. It was used to house the convicts during times when the nearby Sultanahmet Prison was full. Then it became a storage place for paper and oil. It was restored for the first time in 1957 and then it started to house a carpet store till 2007. It has returned its original usage after it experienced a major restoration. Although it was built as classical Ottoman bath, the sections for men and women constructed on the same axis as mirror images of each other.