Ottoman Bath Built by Armenians up for Sale in Turkey

In Turkey, the Ayakapı bathhouse in the Balat district of Istanbul, designed by the renowned Armenian Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, is up for sale for $2.5 million, reports ermenihaber.am.

Citizens of Turkey have reacted negatively to the sale of this valuable 437-year-old historical site, emphasizing that it should be restored rather than sold, stating that "their history should not be sold." According to the source, the interior of the ancient bathhouse is in ruins and is currently being used as an auto repair center.

It is noted that in 1582, the mother of Ottoman Sultan Murad III commissioned architect Sinan to build this bathhouse. In 1947, the Ayakapı bathhouse began to be used as a wood storage facility. Currently, some parts of the bathhouse are filled with garbage. Despite the roof and some walls of the historical bath being collapsed, it still retains some of its former grandeur.

It is worth mentioning that Mimar Sinan, of Armenian descent, served as the chief architect of the Ottoman court in the 16th century. Sinan left a vast legacy of immense significance not only to Muslim but also to world culture. His architectural career spanned 50 years, from 1538 to 1588. The history of the Ottoman Renaissance or the "classical period of Muslim architecture" began with Mimar Sinan's works.