Çatma Mescit Hamamı

600 years of Architect Sinan heritage ...
600 yıllık Mimar Sinan mirası ...

The Story of the Historical Çatma Mascit Hammam in Nova Plaza Pera Hotel

Although there are not many sources and archival materials published on the Çatma Mascit Hamam, the story is said to be as follows;

“In 1533, the greatest architect in the Ottoman history, Mimar Sinan, had built the Grand Hammam and the Kasımpasha Mosque Camii-i Kebir in the honor of the Vizier Kasim Pasha.

The significant Statesmen and Pashas of the period, who went to the Grand Hammam quite often, did not want to share the hammam with the public/working class.

Upon this, with the remaining construction materials of the Grand Hamam, Mimar Sinan designed the Çatma Mascit Hammam for the utilization of the public and for the laborers who were making their living on the docks and naval facilities along the Golden Horn.

The income that was generated from the Çatma Mascit Hamam was used to cover the expenses of the Kasımpaşa mosque Camii-i Kebir and the muezzin.

According to another version of the story, Kasım Pasha had presented the Çatma Mascit Hammam as a gift to one of his daughters Princess Belkis, who had told her father that she wished to have small and modest masjid built for her from the remaining construction supplies of the Camii-i Kebir.

Upon her wish her father had it built and the name remained as ‘Çatma Mascit’.

Çatma Mascit Hammam has recently been beautifully and stylishly restored back to its former glory as it still reflects the magnificence of its era.