Draft:Çatma Mescit Hammam

= Çatma Mescit Hammam = Çatma Mescit Hammam, also known as Küçük (Small) Hammam in documents, was built in the 16th century by the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. This historic hammam has given its name to the surrounding neighborhood. It was constructed in 1533 and today, it continues to serve its original purpose as a functioning hammam in Istanbul. It is close to the Şişhane station on the M2 metro line.

Neighborhood
The historic Çatma Mescit Hammam lends its name to the neighborhood, “Çatma Mescit Mahallesi”, located in the Kasımpaşa area of Beyoğlu.

Güzelce Kasım Pasha was an Ottoman Vizier under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and this area was assigned to him by the Sultan. Kasım Pasha was an Ottoman statesman who served as the Grand Admiral of the Navy (Kaptan-ı Derya) in the Ottoman Army.

In 1525, Kasım Pasha (Ottoman Vizier) was ordered to oversee the construction in this area near the Golden Horn to accommodate the city's growing population. He helped transform the area into an evolved neighborhood with spacious streets and garden courtyards. To honor his contributions, the district was named after him. The area gained military prestige when the Ottoman Navy moved its headquarters and fleet to Kasım Pasha’s harbor.

Kasım Pasha left a series of foundations, including the construction of a mosque, a madrasa, and the Çatma Mescit Hammam in Istanbul.

Architecture
Çatma Mescit Hammam was designed and built by the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. He worked on countless projects for the government and was well known by the Sultan. He held the position of the chief architect of the palace, which meant being the overseer of all construction work of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 50 years. He led a large team of assistants, including architects and master builders.

Çatma Mescit was one of Mimar Sinan’s smaller projects among the Kasım Paşa Mosque and the Grand Hammam.

Hammam’s Structure
The hammam initially had two areas for both genders. The four sections of the hammam are:

The women’s part of the hammam has 19 basins, while the men’s part has 18 basins. Overall, the hammam has a complicated structure.
 * Entrance and the cool room (Soğukluk)
 * The warm room (Ilıklık)
 * The hot room (Sıcaklık)
 * The furnace room (Külhan)

Hammam’s Story
Notable stories and rumors are associated with the construction of Çatma Mescit Hammam, but one of them takes the lead:

This story suggests that the hammam was built at the request of Kasım Pasha's daughter called "Belkis". It is said that she wanted a modest masjid in her name, using the remaining supplies from the mosque. This story states that Çatma Mescit was an additional project that followed the completion of the Kasımpaşa Mosque.

Current Use
Today, Çatma Mescit Hammam operates under Nova Plaza Hotel and is open for reservations. People can book appointments for private sessions. The place offers traditional hammam rituals and massages.

Tourism
In recent years, Çatma Mescit Hammam has become a tourist attraction. It offers visitors hammam sessions while generating revenue from these visits.