Nazafat Bath: The Only Functioning Traditional Bath in Tabriz

Years ago, the technology for building baths was very expensive. Besides constructing the bathhouse, heating the water and delivering it for bathing required significant costs. For this reason, public baths were typically built in each neighborhood. Due to the cultural emphasis on cleanliness and the Islamic teachings highlighting hygiene, bathhouses held a special place in Iranian culture and served as centers for social gatherings, recreation, and the performance of certain rituals and traditions. Gradually, with the advancement of urban living and modern sanitary technologies, homes began to have private bathrooms, and traditional public baths declined in use. Nevertheless, in various corners of Iran, bathhouses still exist that operate in the traditional style and continue to serve the public. The Nazafat Bath in Tabriz is one such traditional bath and is today the only functioning historic bathhouse in the city.

Interior Features of Nazafat Traditional Bath, Tabriz

Traditional bathhouses were typically built below street level to maintain a stable temperature. Accordingly, to reach the main area of Nazafat Bath, visitors must descend a few steps. The steps and walls are covered with white tiles, which are relatively modern. At the bottom of the stairs, a large hall opens up, surrounded by lockers for storing customers’ clothing. Near the hall entrance, a small table is positioned where the bath owner sits to collect fees from visitors. Old paintings and photographs adorn the walls, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. The floor is carpeted, allowing customers to sit and enjoy tea before starting their bath. The high, domed ceiling, historically called the sarbineh, features a small opening that provides both ventilation and natural light. Some of the original plasterwork on the ceiling is still visible. While the cold water channels that once flowed from the small central pool of the sarbineh are no longer in use, seating arrangements such as sofas have replaced them.

Main Hall and Features of Nazafat Traditional Bath, Tabriz

The main area of the bath is a large hall with a stone-paved floor. At its center lies a circular stone pool. At the far end of the hall, several individual baths with separate showers and metal doors have been installed—a style that became common in the 1970s. However, the columns supporting the hall, adorned with intricately carved capitals, are believed to predate these modern bath units. Small openings in the ceiling once functioned as a natural timekeeping method for bathgoers. Unfortunately, much of the original plaster and limework has suffered damage over time, although traces of the craftsmanship are still visible on the walls and ceiling. An interesting feature of this bath is its operational khazineh (water reservoir), which can store enough water to meet the bath’s needs for two days. The traditional toon, once used to heat water using wood or charcoal, is no longer in use. Historically, Tabriz had over 100 public baths, but today, Nazafat Bath remains the only traditional bath still in operation.