Büyük Hamam, Ottoman bathhouse in Nicosia, Cyprus
Büyük Hamam is a bathhouse in Nicosia accessed through an entrance set below ground level, which opens into several connected rooms. The layout includes a changing area, a transitional warming space, and a central hot chamber with a massage platform where guests receive traditional scrubbing treatments and oil massages.
The building was originally constructed as a church in 1306 and later underwent a complete transformation into a bathhouse between 1571 and 1590 during Ottoman rule. This conversion reflects the historical shifts that reshaped the island.
The bathhouse served as a social hub where people gathered to spend time together and connect with neighbors. This communal role made the facility an important part of daily life in the city.
Visitors should prepare for the below-ground entrance and know that the facility offers traditional steam treatments and scrub services. It helps to respect local customs and approach the experience as a relaxing, hands-on wellness activity.
Gothic stone carvings from the original church remain visible at the entrance, showing how two architectural traditions stand side by side. These remnants tell the story of the building's transformation and the cultural layers that accumulated over centuries.
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