The heart of Samsun’s history: Şifa Bath

The Historical Şifa Hamam, located in Saathane Square in the İlkadım district of Samsun, continues to exude history just like on its first day.

Built in the 15th century in Ottoman architecture, the 530-year-old Historical Şifa Hamam dazzles with its historical texture in Saathane Square in Samsun’s İlkadım district. This hamam, the oldest architectural structure in Samsun, continues to preserve its original texture despite renovations. The operator of the Historical Şifa Hamam, Metin Gedik, stated that it is the oldest architectural structure in Samsun and noted that it has been preserved in its original form.

“Samsun’s First Architectural Structure”

Metin Gedik, the operator of the Historical Şifa Hamam, emphasized that it has been the oldest architectural example in Samsun since approximately the 15th century. Gedik said, “It has been used as a hamam since the date it was built. This area is located right at the base of the historical Samsun Castle’s walls. In the front, there is Saathane Square. In fact, this place was a large castle known as Samsun Castle at the time. We know that this is one of the first settlement areas of Samsun and an intra-castle settlement. This Şifa Hamam is also the first architectural structure located right at the base of the castle’s walls. It is an approximately 530-year-old historical artifact and has been used as a hamam since the year it was built. Some newspapers have written that this hamam is 208 years old; this is completely incorrect information, this hamam is exactly 530 years old,” he stated.

Gedik emphasized that nothing was done to the general historical texture of the hamam during the renovation, stating, “As far as we know, it was closed for renovation at the end of 2016. The renovation started in 2017. It was renovated by the General Directorate of Foundations and completed in 2021. A 4-year renovation process took place. During this process, nothing was done to the general historical texture of the hamam, but processes such as strengthening the domes, replacing the marbles, and converting the heating system from wood and coal to natural gas were carried out. The changing areas were interpreted with modern architecture, not historical, but the washing part of the hamam is preserved in its original historical form, just as it was first built,” he said.

Classic Ottoman Architecture

Gedik stated that the hamam was built in classic Ottoman architecture, explaining, “The reason it is called Şifa Hamam is that you come to the hamam, sweat, and receive a massage here; this actually provides a serious contribution to health. Therefore, it is called Şifa Hamam in the sense that ‘you come to the hamam, you find healing.’ There are many historical hamams like this across Turkey, and many of them also use the name Şifa Hamam. The Historical Şifa Hamam was built in classic Ottoman architecture; there is a warm area at the entrance, and inside there is a heating area consisting of a göbektaşı (central stone) and halvet (private bathing rooms). After the renovation, we also added a sauna to one of the halvet rooms.”