Zeyrek Çinili Hamam is a structure located in the Kırkçeşme Neighborhood of İstanbul’s Fatih district, and is considered among the distinguished examples of Ottoman bath (hamam) architecture. It was built in the 16th century by Mimar Sinan upon the request of Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, the Kaptanıderya (Grand Admiral) of the Ottoman navy. Although the building was neglected for many years, it regained function in 2023 after comprehensive restoration work that began in 2010 and lasted for thirteen years, and was also opened to the public with the identity of a museum and cultural center.

^{Zeyrek Çinili Hamam (Melahat Pamuk)}

History

The hamam was built between 1530–1540. Çinili Hamam, which was one of the important social structures of the Zeyrek district during the Ottoman period, took its name from the İznik tiles (çiniler) that adorned its walls. Although these tiles are described as one of the richest programs of the period, a large part of them was sold in the 19th century and dispersed to various museums around the world.

The hamam was used with various restorations in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Cibali fires in 1718, 1756, and 1782, and the 1754 and 1766 earthquakes affected the building; furthermore, in the mid-19th century, a large portion of the hamam's tiles was sold in Paris by the antique dealer Ludovic Lupti. Throughout the 20th century, the structure underwent various additions and repairs, and new sections were added to the women's section.

In 1985, the "Historical Areas of İstanbul" was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Çinili Hamam also took its place within this area. The building, which passed into private ownership in 2010, was restored by The Marmara Group and thus has been brought into a reusable condition today.

Architectural Features

The structure was designed as a double hamam (çifte hamam), and the men's and women's sections were built with identical plans. The dome-covered changing room (soyunmalık), the vault-covered warm room (ılıklık), and the cruciform-planned (haçvari planlı) hot room (sıcaklık) sections reflect classical Ottoman hamam architecture. The hot room section is established on an arrangement of four iwans (eyvan) and four private cubicles (halvet) around the central heated stone (göbek taşı). There are twenty-two water basins (kurna) in total, and the plan arrangements carry the characteristic features of the architectural understanding of the period.

The tile decorations (çini süslemeler), from which it gets its name, have only been preserved today in the hot room (sıcaklık) section of the men's part. These examples, counted among the 16th-century blue-and-white İznik tiles, draw attention with their compositional structures enriched by the addition of turquoise (firuze) tones. The tiles feature floral decorations, examples of calligraphy (hat sanatı), and Persian couplets (beyitler).

^{Example of a Tile with Persian Couplets (Melahat Pamuk)}

Byzantine Ruins and Cistern

The foundation of the hamam was built upon a cistern (sarnıç) dating to the Byzantine period. On the walls of this cistern, located under the cold room (soğukluk) part of the women's section, graffiti (grafitiler) depicting ships were found. The structure in question, bearing traces of the pre-Ottoman period, is also open to visitors today and is used as a special area where art installations (sanat enstalasyonları) are exhibited.

^{Cistern (Zeyrek Çinili Hamam)}

Use Today

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, whose restoration was completed in 2023, continues its original function of hamam activities while also being used for museum and cultural events. Thus, it is both preserved as an example of Ottoman architecture and contributes to the cultural life of modern İstanbul.

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam Museum

The Zeyrek Çinili Hamam Museum was established for the purpose of exhibiting the archaeological findings uncovered during the restoration process. The museum was designed as an annex (ek yapı) that makes the historical and cultural layers of the hamam visible.

Tile Hall

İznik tile fragments (çini parçaları) found during the excavations, numbering close to three thousand, are exhibited here. Additionally, the production process, 37 tile patterns identified through research, digital panels, and completed examples are presented to visitors.

Tile Hall-Tile Fragments (Melahat Pamuk)

The Journey of Water

The section, supported by digital panels describing the transport and use of water in the hamam, conveys the structure's connection to the Byzantine cistern and the Kırkçeşme Waterway (Kırkçeşme Su Yolu).

The Hamam's Archaeology

Coins (sikkeler), glass bottles, oil lamps (kandiller), terracotta vessels (pişmiş toprak kaplar), and metal artifacts from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods are exhibited in this section. The museum collection covers a time span from the 5th to the 20th century, making the multi-layered history of İstanbul visible. Furthermore, comprehensive information is conveyed to visitors thanks to regular guided tours.

^{Exhibition Area (Melahat Pamuk)}