Ottoman Bath of Chios Castle

The Ottoman bath of the Castle, built in the 18th century, is one of Chios’s most important monuments and a testament to the area’s multicultural character. It stands where the sea and land walls meet and formed part of a larger complex that included a mosque and cemetery. Covering 365 sq m with ten rooms, it is the castle’s largest hammam. It operated with separate hours for Muslim men and women, and its architecture is notable for impressive domes and light wells with glass inserts. The route from the changing room to the warm room and then the hot room (at 45°C) included grooming services, massage on the central marble platform, and beautification. Heating was via an underfloor system of steam and hot air. Today the monument stands out for its monumental massing and the authenticity of its Ottoman architecture.