Byzantine Bath, Thessaloniki

The Byzantine Bath is the only surviving Byzantine bathhouse in Thessaloniki and one of the best-preserved examples in Greece. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it remained in continuous use until 1940, an unusually long lifespan that ended during the upheavals of the Second World War. Initially thought to have belonged to a monastic complex, it became known in the Ottoman period as Kule Hammam, the “Bath of the Citadel.”

The bath follows late Roman bathing traditions adapted for Byzantine use, and its layout remains easy to follow. Entry from the south leads into the former frigidarium, once used for changing and cooling. From here, you pass into two tepidaria, or warm rooms, distinguished by their vaulted ceilings. Beyond them lie two caldaria, the hot rooms, where traces of the hypocaust heating system are still visible beneath the floors. To the north, the outline of the cistern can be traced; it was heated from below and supplied warm water to the complex.

Over centuries, the bathhouse was modified to suit changing needs. In the Byzantine period, it was likely used by both men and women at different times, while under Ottoman rule it was reorganized for gender-segregated bathing by reallocating existing spaces.

After closing in 1940, the bath fell into disrepair and suffered further damage during the 1978 earthquakes. Included in 1988 in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki, it was fully restored and reopened in 2015. Today, it serves as a museum and cultural venue, offering a rare glimpse into everyday Byzantine urban life.