Thessaloniki Yahudi Hamam

Location: Louloudadika

Yahudi Hamam is a large Ottoman bathhouse in Louloudadika, at the intersection of Komninon and Vasileos Irakleiou Street. Believed to have been constructed sometime in the 16th century, it was originally named Pazar Hamami because of its location in the center of the market. Its current name translates to Jewish Baths and derives from the large Jewish population that once lived in the neighborhood.

Yahudi Hamam presents impressive masonry, with firebricks, stones, and bricks throughout its exterior. Inside, there are two separate sections, one reserved for men and one for women. The men’s section is the larger and taller of the two. Both areas include a hall covered by a large dome and small compartments, each housed under a smaller dome.

The bath operated until the early 20th century and was greatly damaged in the fire of 1917. Although entrance to the bath is not permitted today, it is still worth a visit, as it is one of the finest examples of Ottoman-era architecture in a historic part of the city. It is also situated just across Agora Modiano, the biggest and most popular market in Thessaloniki.