Caĸaloĸlu Hamamı

Caĸaloĸlu Hamamı review

More or less unchanged since it was built in 1741, Caĸaloĸlu - pronounced 'jaah-lo-loo' - is Istanbul's most famous hamam. It is often used as a backdrop for soap ads and pop videos. The two-storeycamekan has a baroque fountain, while the grand hararet seems inspired by the domed chamber of an imperial mosque. Illustrious bathers include Franz Liszt, Florence Nightingale and Tony Curtis. Unfortunately, Caĸaloĸlu is starting to rest on its laurels: on a recent visit, the steam room was so under-heated we shivered instead of sweating.