Ottoman bath (Hammam)

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Overview

Salt warehouse

The Ottoman bath, also known as the “salt warehouse", has been operating as a museum since 2010. Located near the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, it is considered to be the single original hamam in the whole Dodecanese region.

Starting from the early-mid 17th century, the women-only ottoman bath operated until 1948. A circular room with porticos, having nine (9) baths, in which women would meet, bathe, groom themselves and discuss various affairs of the time. In the early 80's this building was used as a reservoir, storing salt from the salt pans of Kos. It remained closed from 1980 to 2008. Today, after surviving several earthquakes, it operates as a visitable area with informational boards explaining the building’s history.

Access

Square of Hippocrates Plane Tree (Plateia Platanou), in the heart of Kos town, opposite the Knights’ Castle (or Castle of Neratzia) and next to the Ancient Agora of Kos.

Need to know:

Kos was full of hamams and baths, thus ancient bathing facilities are found almost everywhere on the Island. This Ottoman bath used to be called yahudi hamamı - i.e. the Jewish hamam, but everyone knows it as the Ottoman hamam!

Don't miss

Visit the other significant monuments in the Square of Hippocrates Plane Tree (Plateia Platanou), such as the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, the Loggia Mosque, the Knights’ Castle and the Ancient Agora of Kos.

More photos!

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