Hammam Saffarin

It is located on the southwest side of Place Seffarine, across from the Madrasa Saffarin and south of the Qarawiyyin Mosque.

[1] It was probably originally intended to cater to the local coppersmiths who worked in the boutiques and workshops around Place Seffarine.

[2] Local inhabitants associate this hammam with the tombs of two Sufi Muslim saints, Sidi Tallouk and Sidi Ahmad Skalli, although no physical tombs are visible and the exact relation between the hammam and the saints is not clearly established.

They allowed for the local population, especially the poorer inhabitants, to perform ablutions as well as maintaining general health and cleanliness.

[8] From Place Seffarine it is marked only by a horseshoe arch entrance, from which a bent passage leads to the interior.

The main dome and the arches of the chamber are decorated with carved stucco motifs, while the lower walls are covered in zellij tilework.

The warm rooms also have small side chamber or alcoves which can provide additional privacy for bathers.

[8] Hot smoke from the fires passed under the floors of the rooms and then rose through flues inside the walls and up to the chimneys.

[8] The furnaces require constant fuel and thus needed to be manned by labourers throughout the hammam's hours of operation.