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| Address: |
| Vezirhan Cad No: 8 |
| Cemberlitas |
| Istanbul |
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| Telephone: |
| +90 212 522 79 74 |
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Cemberlitas Turkish Bath |
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Commisioned by the foundation of Nur-u Banu Sultan, wife of Sultan Selim II, and the mother of Murat III, Cemberlitas public bath was built in 1584. Based on a plan of the legendary Turkish architect Mimar Sinan, the bath is one of the most important works of 16th century Ottoman architecture. Open from early morning to midnight (06-24) throughout the year, the two-chambered bath has seperate sections for women and for men.
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| The Cemberlitas Hamami in the old city is an historic Turkish bath, built in the 16th century and a baffling combination of a prosaic local swimming baths and the sensuality of the east. You undress, wrap yourself in a stripy sheet, put on slippers and make your way into the hot room. There an extraordinary sight awaits you. On a vast heated marble dais, sprawled on their sheets, are twenty or so naked women of all shapes and sizes (there is strict segregation of the sexes - though Christian was allowed in with me on the grounds of youth!). The heat is so overpowering that your muscles - and embarassment - melt away and by the time it's your turn to be massaged you are already relaxed. The massage itself begins only after you've been sweating out impurities for around half an hour and it's a vigorous and invigorating experience, which includes lots of soap, having your hair washed and a good scrub with a loofah mitt!
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| In spite of the extraordinary architecture, this is no chic spa. The masseuses are naked, too, except for a uniform of black pants and continually drink and splash themselves with water to cool down. Meanwhile, back on the slab, everyone chats and steams and you can't help but wonder if life in the harem was like this
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History
