TAMAM RESTAURANT

After the fall of Chania in the Ottoman Empire in 1645, the Turks began a rebuilding program to modify churches in minarets, build many private and public baths, "Hamam" and fountains. The "Hamam" combines the tradition of the Roman and Byzantine Baths, with the underground canals and the clay pipes that drove the special rooms with hot water and steam. Three such baths have survived to date, but of course none of these works. The building on the road to Zambeoli, next to the Tamam Restaurant, is of the Venetian period and is distinguished by the original square windows, but they were closed by the Turks and in their place they were made with domed Turkish style. The building of the "Hamam" has six hemispherical domes and in the past had another floor destroyed by a bombing in 1941. If you notice through the windows of the building you will see the holes in the hemispheric domes, where they used to escape the vapors. The Tamam Restaurant is located at the site of the Hamam's "cold pool" where you dove after a good steam bath. In the same place you can enjoy the unique cuisine and atmosphere of the Tamam Restaurant.

After the fall of Hania (then called "La Canea" by the Venetians) to the Ottoman Empire in 1645, the Turks set about an extensive building program of converting Catholic churches to mosques and building numerous private and public baths (Hamam) and fountains. The "Hamam" combines the tradition of the Roman and Byzantine baths with their underground hypocausts and pipes conveying hot water and steam to the appropriate rooms. Three of these Turkish public baths still remain today, but of course none are in operation! The building on Zambeliou street, next door to "Tamam" is obviously of the Venetian period, as can be seen by the original rectangular window openings now blocked in and the very fine, round-headed, stone window openings inserted by the Turks. These bath buildings have six large hemispherical domes (without drums) and previously had a top store, which was demolished by the bombing in 1941. Look through the grilles of the window openings and you can see the holes in the domes that allowed the hot steam to escape.

Tony Fennymore