In the shadow of the majestic Acropolis, on the slopes of the hills and along narrow cobbled streets, lies the Old Town of Bergama (Ottoman Bergama) – a place where medieval caravanserais, ancient baths, and mosques with elegant minarets have been preserved. Unlike the ancient ruins that brought the city worldwide fame, Ottoman Bergama has retained the spirit of a trade, craft, and religious center, as it was from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
The main district of the old town – the bazaar quarter (Çarşı) – still preserves the layout of Ottoman times. The narrow, winding streets paved with cobblestones and the old Greco-Ottoman mansions with wooden balconies and protruding bay windows are a reminder that Bergama was a multicultural city for a long time, home to Turks, Greeks, Armenians, and Jews.
• Bergama Bazaar (Bergama Çarşısı) – the heart of the old town. Here, you can still see stone shops (han) where carpets, olive oil, leather, and copper were traded for centuries.
• Köprübaşı – the area near the stone bridge over the Bergama River, where caravanserais were located for merchants traveling along the İzmir-Bursa route.
• The streets around Taşhan – one of the few surviving Ottoman inns where merchants carrying goods from the depths of Anatolia would stop.
Ottoman Mosques of Bergama
Several mosques from the Ottoman period have been preserved in Bergama, each reflecting different architectural eras:
• The Great Mosque (Ulucami, 1399) – the city`s main mosque, built under Sultan Bayezid I. Its massive dome and stern minaret dominate the old town.
• Şadırvanlı Mosque (Şadırvanlı Camii, 1550) – a small but elegant mosque with a unique octagonal fountain in its courtyard.
• Kurşunlu Mosque (Kurşunlu Camii, 16th century) – named for its lead-covered dome, a rarity for provincial mosques.
• Lala Paşa Mosque (Lala Paşa Camii, 15th century) – a modest mosque with a wooden minbar in the Seljuk style.
• Hızır Mosque (Hızır Camii, 14th century) – one of the oldest, possibly rebuilt from a Byzantine church.
Hammams: Where Ottoman Townspeople Bathed
Bergama was famous for its hammams (baths), which were not only places for washing but also centers of social life:
• The Great Hammam (Büyük Hamam, 15th century) – built at the same time as Ulucami, it retains the classic Ottoman layout with cold (soğukluk), warm (ılıklık), and hot (sıcaklık) rooms.
• Taşhan Hammam (Taşhan Hamamı, 16th century) – part of a trading complex where merchants could rest after a long journey.
• Hızır Hammam (Hızır Hamamı) – smaller in size but with exquisite stonework and an underfloor heating system.
What Was Bergama Known for in the Middle Ages?
In the 14th–17th centuries, Bergama (then called Pergamon) was not as famous as in antiquity but remained an important center:
• Trade: Thanks to its location on the route from İzmir to Bursa, the city was a hub for caravans carrying silk, carpets, and olive oil.
• Crafts: It was renowned for leatherworking (especially saffian leather) and soap production made from local olive oil.
• Medicine: Traditions from the ancient Asclepeion partially survived – Ottoman healers (hekim) practiced here, using herbs and mineral waters.
• Sufi Lodges: The surrounding areas had tekkes (dervish lodges), particularly those associated with the Bektashi order.
Modern Atmosphere: Where to Feel the Spirit of Ottoman Bergama?
• Bankalar Street (Bankalar Caddesi) – where old Ottoman houses with carved shutters remain.
• The quarter around Ulucami – the best spot to see traditional urban architecture.
• Tea houses near the bazaar – many are located in 19th-century buildings with inner courtyards.
Ottoman Bergama is a city where you can wander among stone walls, mosques, and hammams, breathing in the scents of the Eastern bazaar and imagining how merchants, dervishes, and craftsmen once walked these same streets, leaving their mark on the history of this remarkable city.
