Owing to the emphasis placed on cleanliness in Turkish society, there have been public bathhouses ("hamam") in Turkey since medieval times. There are separate baths for men and women, or, when there is only one bathhouse in the town, different days or times of day are allocated for men and women. After entering the "hamam" and leaving one's clothes in a cubicle, one proceeds wrapped in a towel ("pestamal") to the "göbektasi", a large heated stone where one perspires and is rubbed down by a bath attendant.If the heat proves too much, one can retire to a cooler room for a while. This method of bathing is most refreshing and many of the old marble baths are very interesting, architecturally.