In the historical and touristic city of Ulqin, Hamam is the building that attracts the attention of both visitors and researchers. This ancient structure, built around 1743 by Jusuf Pasha of Shkodra, serves as a lasting testament to Ottoman architecture and the traditions of public hammams (known as Turkish baths).
The hammam is constructed in the style of a simple mosque with a central dome and several smaller domes surrounding it. Inside, the spaces are divided into small areas where visitors prepare for bathing and then relax. Meydan, the main domed space, served as the entrance to the other small, also domed rooms.
The washrooms are equipped with troughs where hot and cold water flows, and light penetrates through the glass in the domes, creating a wonderful and bright atmosphere. Behind the washroom, there was a hot water tank supplied by Pasha’s fountain, now destroyed.
Outside the hammam, a lovely maple tree provided a resting place where the Ulqinians could relax, chat, and drink coffee while smoking their long chibouks. There were designated days and hours for men and women to use the hammam. When it was women’s turn, they would hang their clothes over the entrance door as a warning to men not to approach. Men typically went to the hammam in the morning and, after bathing, proceeded to work. Women usually finished their housework first before going to hamam. Men visited the hammam individually, while women were usually accompanied by several others.
The Hammam near Pasha’s Mosque is more than just a building; it is a portal in time that allows us to see and experience the way of life of the inhabitants of Ulcinj in past centuries. As a cultural heritage treasure, it continues to amaze and inspire generations.
