
Byzantine Bath, Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki's Byzantine Bath is the city's only surviving bath and one of Greece's best-preserved ancient baths.
It was built in the late 12th/early 13th century and functioned continuously until 1940, when it was shut down probably due to World War II and the German occupation of Greece. Originally, the Bath likely formed part of a monastery complex. During Ottoman times, it was known as Kule Hammam, i.e. "Bath of the Citadel".
Its original architecture followed Roman conventions. The entrance in the south leads to the frigidarium (dressing rooms). There are also two tepidarium (warm rooms) with vaulted ceilings, and two caldarium (hot rooms). Both the tepidarium and caldarium rooms had hypocaust (underfloor heating). To the north of the Bath was a cistern, heated with a hearth underneath it, to provide hot water.
The Bath's long use led to numerous alterations of the original structure over time. In Byzantine period the building was used alternately by men and women, but under the Ottoman rule the Bath was divided into exclusively male and female sections, by blocking off each pair of rooms from one another.
Closed since 1940, the Bath was subject to neglect and damage during the 1978 earthquakes, and only survived thanks to the support from the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and the protection offered by an external metal sheet covering. In 1988 it was included, among other Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
After four years of restoration work, the Bath was re-opened to the public as a museum and cultural space in June 2015.
It was built in the late 12th/early 13th century and functioned continuously until 1940, when it was shut down probably due to World War II and the German occupation of Greece. Originally, the Bath likely formed part of a monastery complex. During Ottoman times, it was known as Kule Hammam, i.e. "Bath of the Citadel".
Its original architecture followed Roman conventions. The entrance in the south leads to the frigidarium (dressing rooms). There are also two tepidarium (warm rooms) with vaulted ceilings, and two caldarium (hot rooms). Both the tepidarium and caldarium rooms had hypocaust (underfloor heating). To the north of the Bath was a cistern, heated with a hearth underneath it, to provide hot water.
The Bath's long use led to numerous alterations of the original structure over time. In Byzantine period the building was used alternately by men and women, but under the Ottoman rule the Bath was divided into exclusively male and female sections, by blocking off each pair of rooms from one another.
Closed since 1940, the Bath was subject to neglect and damage during the 1978 earthquakes, and only survived thanks to the support from the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and the protection offered by an external metal sheet covering. In 1988 it was included, among other Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
After four years of restoration work, the Bath was re-opened to the public as a museum and cultural space in June 2015.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Byzantine Bath on Map
Sight Name: Byzantine Bath
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Thessaloniki, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Thessaloniki
Creating your own self-guided walk in Thessaloniki is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Thessaloniki Introduction Walking Tour
Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city as well as its second major political, industrial, commercial, and economic center.
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Thessaloniki Upper Town Walking Tour
Thessaloniki's Upper Town (Ano Poli) is the most ancient part of the city, aged approximately 2,300 years. Being also the highest part of Thessaloniki, dominated by the Acropolis with the Byzantine-/Ottoman-era fort known as Heptapyrgion (Eptapyrgio), from here on a clear day you can see way across the gulf, as far as Mount Olympus, some 80 km (50 miles) away, towering over the horizon in all... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Thessaloniki Waterfront Tour
The Mediterranean has always been an integral part of Thessaloniki’s appeal. The city's orientation toward the sea is largely due to the vision of Ernest Hébrard, the French urban planner and architect, who redesigned the downtown area after the devastating fire of 1917.
To really get the taste of Thessaloniki you need to visit not just its historical landmarks, but also those spots... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
To really get the taste of Thessaloniki you need to visit not just its historical landmarks, but also those spots... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles