The journey through a Turkish bath begins in the entrance hall. In these parts of Turkish bath, guests are warmly greeted and introduced to the hammam sections. The entrance hall is usually adorned with traditional warm decor, creating an inviting ambiance. Here, guests can take a moment to adapt to a peaceful environment before hammam’s cleansing and massage sessions.
The dressing area, known as the “soyunmalık,” is the place where guests change into traditional garments, such as a pestemal- a kind of thin cotton towel. In this place, there are some lockers or personal spaces to store belongings. This area can be seen as the beginning of the transition from the outside world to the relaxing environment of the hammam.
The warm area, or “ılıklık”, is a transition space section where the body gradually adapts to the heat. This room is moderately warm. So, it helps to prepare the guests for the more intense heat of the hot area in the hammam. It is also offers a comfortable seating and soothing surrounding to feel a relax and start unwinding
The hot area, or “hararet”, is the core of the parts of Turkish bath. The hot area is filled with dense, steamy heat so that it opens pores and promotes sweating. It is a kind of detox for the body. The heat is typically generated by a central heating system beneath the marble floors and walls. Thus, this place creates a warm and comfortable area that encourages relaxation and cleansing.
Göbek tası is at the heart of the hot area. It is a large and heated marble slab. The guest lies on this stone to absorb the heat. So, body muscles relax muscles and help to improve the body's blood circulation. The göbek tası has been a central feature of the parts of turkısh baths since it offers an incredible heat therapy that is both soothing and revitalizing.
There are wash basins and kurnas that surround the hot area. These are places where guests can pour warm or cool water themselves by using traditional copper and brass bowls. Wash basins are essential for the cleaning rituals because they allow intermittent drying off between steam sessions and peeling treatments. In these parts of Turkish baths, the combination of heat and water creates a deeply purifying experience.
After spending joyful time in the hot area, guests move to the cold area, or “soğukluk”, in order to cool down and allow their body temperature to gradually return to normal. The cold area is typically cooler so that it provides a calming atmosphere for relaxation. The transitions from heat to cool are important parts of Turkish bath ritual since cooling down after the bath helps to refresh and energize the body.
Many parts of Turkish bath offer a dedicated massage area which includes traditional treatments. In these massage therapies natural oils are often used. Massage area is designed to complement the effects of the hammam so that it helps to relieve the tension, and promotes overall well-being. The combination of heat, cleansing, and massage creates a holistic and peaceful approach to relaxation.
Each part of Turkish baths plays a vital role in the hammam experience. They provide a harmonious blend of heat, water, and relaxation so that guests feel refreshed and revitalized.
