What to see and do in Pamukkale:
- See the blisteringly white terraced pools of Pamukkale's hot springs, the result of thousands of years of deposits by the calcium rich hot springs
- Visit the Ancient city of Hierapolis, a World Heritage Site
- Swim in the Sacred Pool amongst fallen Roman columns in the former Pamukkale Motel (now the Pamukkale Thermal)
For thousands of years visitors have extolled the healing powers of Pamukkale's calcium-rich hot springs, which created a unique, snow-white landscape of terraced pools and petrified waterfalls as the spring water cascaded down a hillside.
In the 70's and 80's a visitor to the little town outside Denizli could take a cheap room, walk to the springs and plop down in a pool. No more (well, not officially, anyway). Hotels built at the site of the spring to service increasing numbers of tourists and irresponsible tourism itself caused the spring to almost stop springing, and the unrefreshed pools turned a dingy gray.
UNESCO was called in. Pamukkale was christened one of the Eminenent Cultural Heritages of the world. Hotels that diverted the spring water were torn down. Trails were set up through the pools, and dipping in them was dissalowed. (There have evidently been some unconvincingly "fake" pools built for tourists to frolic in.)
In any case, the pools have returned to their pristeen whiteness, and are once again a worthwhile tourist destination.
Swiming in the Sacred Pool
The Sacred Pool is where the springs that feed Pamukkale's mineral pools originate in a depression among the cultural artifacts of the ancient Romans; columns and capitals are strewn about the the effervescent waters. The 95 degree Farenheit waters of the Sacred Pool along with their minerals have been reveered for their health benefits for centuries. To try them, you'll pay $5, but you'll have to bring your own towel.
The ruins of Roman Hierapolis
On the top of the Plateau you'll find the impressive ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis where you'll find:
The Necropolis--the largest and one of the best preserved cemeteries in Anatolia with approximatively 1,200 graves. Most of the sarcophagi bear inscriptions and some contain decorative reliefs in which the occupant is sometimes depicted.
St. Philippe Martyrium, built in the fifth century AD in an octagonal shape on the spot where Philip is said to have been stoned to death.
The Basilica ( 5th century) was originally a Roman bath.
The Columned Road, it runs North-South through the ancient city. It's 1,190 meters long.
The Public Roman Baths--now the local museum.
The well-preserved theatre with a seating capacity of 20,000 people. See the Gallery for pictures.
How to get to Pamukkale
Turkey's extensive (and inexpensive) bus system will easily get you from the larger town of Denizli to Pamukkale. You can rent a car, but be aware, driving in Turkey can be more dangerous than other places in Europe; thousands die each year from auto accidents in Turkey.
A major port of entry into Turkey from Greece is Kusadasi, where you can take a ferry to or from the Greek Island of Samos. You can rent a taxi to take you to many of the closer sites, including Ephesus and Pamukkale. See our map for locations.
Warning
With the invasion of Iraq and traditional tensions between Iraq and Turkey, travel in Turkey may be iffy at this time. Travelers are advised to keep a low profile and avoid political gatherings and demonstrations.
