The Baths through the times

Mineral water has been flowing and life has gravitated around the springs ever since the settlement, known nowadays as Sofia, came into existence.

Romans knew about the springs and most intentionally selected the location of their town Serdika.

One can hardly imagine a Roman city without its thermal baths and there have been many of them in Serdika. The remains of such a construction have been found lying under what’s nowadays Sveta Nedelya church and the square in front of the Sheraton Hotel.

At the times of the Ottoman occupation hamams (oriental baths) were built at the sites with thermal water.

One of the most famous hamams was built in the 14 century adjacent to the Banya Bashi Mosque. Many travelers, passing through our lands, have described it. The building had two entrances and sections for men and for women. At some point the old hamam could no longer meet the needs of the growing population of the capital city. In 1881 the City Council decided on its reconstruction and expansion. The new section, known as the Little Baths was accessible from Ekzarh Josef Street. It accommodated 50 bathing compartments, arranged in
2 rows, a Russian bath, baths for medical treatment and a washing room.