First time in a turkish bath?

"Actually I don't think it was love at first sight; far from it actually. When Francesco first goes to the bath he is confused by what he feels. When Mhemet asks him the question, he answers "No," as he is not willing to admit that he has been in one because it made him feel something he didn't want to admit to. It's as simple as that - personal denial."

I believe that he simply wanted to go to a hamam again. If he had answered "Yes", it's possible that he wouldn't have the chance again before he was supposed to leave for Rome. I have been to a hamam, and enjoyed it very much. In his shoes, I'd also try and go to the hamam again.

In what way would Francesco be confused about what he feels? He is a grown man, and would very likely have been in a public bath before (in the sense that he would have seen semi-nude men en masse).

If Francesco really was in denial, it would have been a better choice to say "Yes", and then add that he thought nothing special about it and would have no interest in going there again. That is an answer the family would accept without any problems. He knows that if he say "No", someone in the family would immediately invite him to go to one.