Pamukkale

[The March Hare]

DENÝZLÝ- PAMUKKALE

Area : 11.868 km²

Population : 750.882 (1990)

Traffic Code : 20

Denizli famous with roosters, has rich history and culture. Denizli is a tourism center to be seen with its Hierapolis and Laod**eia, Tripolis, antic cities, hot springs and Pamukkale which is unique in the world with its travertines.

Distircts : Denizli (center), Acýpayam, Akköy, Babadað, Baklan, Bekilli, Beyaðaç, Bozkurt, Buldan, Tavas, Çameli, Çal, Çardak, Çivril, Güney, Honaz, Kale, Sarayköy, Serinhisar.

MUSEUMS AND ANCIENT CITIES

Hierapolis Archeology Musuem : One of the biggest buildings of Hierapolis antique city,Roman Bath has been giving service as Hierapolis Archeology Musuem since 1984.

At the museum, besides the creations engraved from Hierapolis city, traces of Laod**eia, Colossai, Tripolis, Attuda, Lycos (Çürüksu) Valley cities can be found. Moreover, important part of the museum consists of archeological creations unearthed at Beycesultan Tumulus which presents the best samples of Bronze Age. Pieces of art revealed from some of the settlements within Karia, Psydia and Lydia regions are also collected and exhibited in Hierapolis Museum.

Open hours to visit: Summers: 08.00 - 19.00, Winter: 08.00 - 17.00 (except Mondays)

Tel [phone]

Atatürk Ethnography Museum : Located at the city center ,the building currently serves as a museum, the construction date of which is not certain. At the upper floor of the museum, ethnographic cultural assets such as clothes, jewelers, house furniture, guns, rugs, carpets majority of which are remained from Ottoman Period are on exhibit. Moreover in the room where Atatürk rested during his visit to Denizli, there are a wradrobe, bedstead adorned with brass,sofa and a work table in baroque style.

Open hours to visit: Summers: 08.00 - 19.00, Winters: 08.00 - 17.00 (except Mondays)

Tel : [phone]

Tripolis: It is at the 40 km north of Denizli city center. It is built on the slopes between Büyük Menderes River and Yenicekent Town,Buldan county, east from Yenicekent town. Tripolis one of the cities in Lydia region was a trade, agriculture and border center as the junction point between Karya and Frigia. It was one of the richest cities of region with its architecture and maner of establishment. It is estimated that city build by Bergama Kingdom. Best samples of monument buildings were built during 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries. Mentioning of the nameTripolis in the list of the bishops of the Lydia in Nikea council in 325 AC, means that city was in the condition of episcopacy.

Tripolis Buildings

Theater: It is at the city center and built with Roman construction style and in a suitable way for formation of area.

Public Bath: It takes place approximately 200 m. east of the theater. It is located at the outer side of the city ramparts.Outer walls are partly survived.

Castle and Ramparts: Tripolis surrounded by ramparts during Late Roman and Byzantine Period. Built on sloping grounds, ramparts of the city were supported by bastions, watchtowers and thick walls in some parts.

Necropolis: It is at the east and south slopes of the ramparts. In this place rock tombs, graves with podiums and tombs can be seen.

Colossae : It is located at 25 km south of Denizli city and 2 km north of Honaz County. It is on the south roadway that has been used since Ancient times. It is one of the most important centers placed in Great Frigia. It is one of the 6 biggest cities of Frigia according to Ksenephon.

There is a castle ruin remained from Ottoman Period. Ruins of Colossae antic city, an Acropolis, can be seen around tumulus hill and surrounding areas. At north of tumulus, there are tombs engraved to rock to be built as room and house type.

Herakleia Salbace : City is in the borders of Vakýf Village which is 10 km north west of Tavas county, Denizli city. Important buildings are ramparts surrounding the city and stadium belonging to Roman Period.

Artemis and Leto : It is at approximately 4 km east of Herakleia Salbace antique city and 1 km north east of present Tavas - Kýzýlcabölük Town, built on a place named Ören Sýrtý (ruin ridge) and Kocapýnar locality. Perched on the ridges of Babadað Mountain with its rectangular shape,Hieron has relieves on its surface that figure out the mythological scenes about Artemis, Apollo, Pan, Dionysus and Hercules.

MOSQUES AND TOMBS

Acýpayam Yazýr Mosque : According to the inscription on the entrance gate of the Mosque, it was built at the year of 1801. Mosques' walls which are very rich and interesting in terms of decoration, are adorned with 3 lined panels of pictures.

Boðaziçi Mosque : The mosque was built during Seljuk Period in Baklan county, Boðaziçi town. It is inside the wooden columned type of mosques. Rich and various wooden patterns by means of decorative perspective can be seen.

Tombs : Servergazi Tomb (Yeþilköy), Mehmet Gazi Tomb (at Big grave yard), Fatma Haným (Yýldýz) Tomb (at Big grave yard), Ahi Sinan Tomb, Mahmut Gazi Tomb, Yataðan Baba Tomb ve Hüsamettin Bey Tomb are main tombs that are to be seen in Denizli.

INNS AND CARAVANSERAIS

Akhan Inn : It is 7 km from Denizli, and located on Denizli - Afyon highway. Caravanserai was built between the years of 1253 - 1254. In one of the two inscription of the caravanserai, name and reputations of II. Ýzzettin Keykavus are described. Haným portal (corona gate)is magnificient with its geometrical and pastel adornments. It has dense embellishment with Deer, sphinxes, and bird shaped figures, palm, and plants shaped motifs.

Çardakhan Caravanserai : It is located outside the Çardak county center. According to its inscription, it was built during I. Alaaddin Keykubad Period, at the year of 1230. It is a caravanserai having the properties of Sultan Inns.

THERMAL SPRINGS

Çizmeli (Yenice) Thermal : It is in the borders of Yenicekent that 16 km far away to Buldan county. It is at the outskirts of Menderes River and accessible through passing the Tripolis antic city ruins. It has good effects on some of the health problems such as Rheumatism, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, skin disease, and hemorrhoids.

Gölemezli Çamur Thermal : It is near the Gölemezli village depended to Akköy County. It is formed with 4 springs. Each spring has different quality. First one uses as mud bath. It used for curative effects on skin diseases.

Babacýk (Kabaaðaç) Thermal : It is at the Kaabaaðaç Village 3 km away from Tekke köyü hot spring, Sarayköy county.

Tekkeköy Thermal : It is near the Village at Sarayköy County. It is 20 km away from Sarayköy, and hot waters springs from various places. Public Bath remains from Rome period contains pool and dressing rooms. Hot spring waters has curative effects on rheumatism, skin, gynecological and urethra diseases.

Kýzýldere Hot Spring : It springs from red colored stones, 11 km away from Sarayköy Village. The complex includes a two domed turkish bath(hamam), two bathing place, pool and dressing rooms. It is good for rheumatism and weariness.

GEOGRAPHY

Though located in Aegean Region,Denizli is not totally effected with the Aegean climate. Instead, due to its being placed on the transition point between coast line and the inner parts, Denizli to a certain extent displays a terrestrial climate. Denizli province is open to the winds coming from the sea because of the perpendicular extension of the mountains. Winter months are warm and rainy.

HISTORY

Denizli city was established 6 km north of the present location of the city, within the neighbourhood of Eskihisar Village. The city was built by II Antiokos for the name of his wife between the years of 261 - 246 B.C and gave its name to Laod**eia. This name of the city had been used till the invasions of the Muslim.The current name of the city Denizli, once Tonguzlu, has taken its form through an evolutionary process. Later Persians, Great Alexander, Romans and Byzantine, Seljuks, Govermentals and Ottomans took control of the city. After Turks conquered Denizli and its environs,the center of the city became Kaleiçi due to its rich water resources.

WHERE TO EAT

Authentic cuisine of the city includes pirinç çorbasý (rice soup), keþkek, kuru fasulye (haricot bean), chickpea, sarma, dolma, bulgur pilavý, kabak (vegatable marrow), soðan yahnisi (meat stew with onions).

WHAT TO BUY

All Denizli city textiles are very famous with patterned, colorful silver like woolen silk clothes, and other fabrics especially peculiar to Buldan and shops exhibit and sell these products.

DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT

- Visiting natural wonders of unique travertines, curative hot spring of Pamukkale which are renowned for thier rolein healing lots of diseases; moreover visiting thermal springs such as Karahayýt and Yenice,

- Seeing Hierapolis, Laod**eia, Colossae, Tripolis and Heraclaia settled by various civilizations, and holy places of antique age,

- Going to an important shopping center Kaleiçi, and visiting Babadaðlýlar shopping mall placed at city center for buying towel, bathrobe and other textile products,

- Making picnic at Çamlýk promenade placed on the slopes of Mount Karcý, a place unique with its air, water and panorama,

PAMUKKALE

The stunning white calcium pools, which cling to the side of a ridge, have long been one of the most famous picture postcard views of Turkey. Pamukkale, literally meaning “cotton castle”, is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis of which there are many interesting ruins, and is a very popular destination for a short visit.

Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of dissolved calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving calcium deposits. This formed into natural pools, shelves and ridges, which tourists could plunge and splash in the warm water.


Hotels were springing up from the 1970s to cater for the large influx of tourists, and shortly afterwards UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. But by the 1990s, this took its toll on the state of the calcium pools and restrictions were placed on these travertine terraces. Many hotels were knocked down, visitors are only allowed on major paths around the sites, and must remove footwear to stand on the calcium deposits. This seems to have been a successful move, as the water supply is now used for preservation and some of the damaged calcium deposits have been strengthened.

Climate

The summers are hot and dry, and winters warm and rainy.

MUSEUMS

Hierapolis Archeology Museum

The old Roman Baths, one of the largest structures in Hierapolis, has been the Archaeological Museum since 1984. Inside are exhibits from excavations of the area.

Museum Tel: [phone].

Opening hours: 08:00 – 19:00 (Summer); 08:00 – 17:00 (Winter). Closed Mondays.

ANCIENT CITIES

Hiarapolis (Pamukkale)

The ancient city of Hierapolis, the original site of Pamukkale, was known as Holy City in archaeological literature because of the abundance of temples and other religious structures in the area. Although there is limited information on the founding of the city, it is known that Eumenes II founded it and named it after Bergama’s mythical founder, Hiera, who was the wife of Telephos. It was an important centre during the Roman and Byzantine periods, and a centre of Christianity since the 4th century.

Principal Remnants

Main Street and Doors

The colonnaded main street, 1km in length, divides the city into two sections from end to end. At both ends are monumental doors outside the Byzantine ramparts because huge sections of the doors were constructed during the Roman era. On the South Byzantine Door, dating back to 5 BC, is an epitaph dedicated to Emperor Dominatian. The North Byzantine Door dating back to the same period is at the junction between the road and the ramparts.

Ramparts

The city was encircled with walls around the north, east and south, in the 5th century BC. 24 square towers were added, but the majority of these have since collapsed. Of the four entrances, two are the monumental doors and other others are small.

Great Turkish Bath Complex

Now part of the Pamukkale Museum and south of the Thermals Baths, the layout of the Roman Baths is typical of the era: A wide courtyard is at the entrance, through which is a rectangular area with large halls on both sides. There is evidence suggesting that the interior’s huge walls were covered with marble. At the north and south of the main complex are two main halls essentially used for the private use of the Emperor, and for ceremonies. The remains of the baths date back to 2nd century BC, and the area is now covered with marble and a large section is part of the Pamukkale Museum.

Apollion Temple

Near the Museum are the foundations of the Temple, constructed on the Plutonium spring and dedicated to Pluto, god of the underworld. It still gives off deadly poisonous gases and in front of the temple, a grate has been installed over the underground entrance to the spring to prevent inquisitive visitors. It was the site of an ancient religious cave, where Apollo met the mother goddess of Cybele, and sources suggest that she descended into the cave without being affected by the toxic fumes. The upper parts of the Temple date back to the 3rd century, and is accessible through a wide staircase.

Theatre

The restored Roman theatre dates back to the 2nd century and the stage buildings and elaborate reliefs are in exceptionally good condition. Construction began in 62 AD by Flavius two years after a large earthquake, and completed in 206 AD. It once had a capacity of around 12,000, and adorned with columns and statues which were unearthed during excavations. On the backstage walls are marble bas-reliefs. The theatre is still the venue for the annual International Pamukkale Song Festival in June, during which 7000 spectators can be seated.

Churches

In the city centre are a cathedral, a church with pillars, and two other churches belonging to the 6th and 7th centuries, with smaller chapels at the northern end of the city.

Nekropol

The necropolis, in the northern end of the old centre, is the largest in Asia Minor and continues along both sides of the road for nearly 2km. Limestone and marble were both used during the construction of the graves, although marble was more common for the tombs. The northern necropolis includes characteristics of tombs, graves and monuments, which date back to early Christianity. The tombs that have architectural characteristics of houses are considered the most valuable parts of the necropolis.

Laod**eia

Founded on the southern back of the Curuksu River, the site of ancient Laodiceia, or Laodikya, is 13km south of Pamukkale. According to ancient sources, the city was established by Antiochus in 261-263 BC, and named after his wife.

This was one of the most important and renowned cities of Anatolia in the first century BC, and the majority of works of art here belonged to this period. The Romans put great importance to Laodikya and declared it as the centre of Cybria. The whole area contains the largest stadium in Asia Minor, a gymnasium and baths complex, and the foundations of an Ionic temple. The region contains one of the seven known churches of Asia Minor, which indicates the high esteem in which Christianity was placed. A destructive earthquake levelled the city in 60 AD.

Structures of Laod**eia

Grand Theatre

Constructed in typical Roman architectural style, the Grand Theatre is in the northern area of Laodikya. Although the stage has been completely destroyed, the areas for the orchestra and audience are in good condition, and had a capacity of around 20,000.

Small Theatre

300m northwest of the Grand Theatre, this had a capacity of 15,000 and was constructed in Roman style. The stage has completely collapsed, and there is slight damage elsewhere to the interior.

Stadyum and Gymnasium

Built in 79AD, the stadium is measures 350m x 60m. Having the architectural properties of an amphitheatre, it has 24 rows of seating although significant parts of its have since been destroyed. According to an inscription unearthed during excavations, Proconsul Gargilius constructed the gymnasium in the 2nd century, as a dedication to Emperor Hadrian and his wife Sabina.

Monumental Fountain

Located on the main street, the Monumental Fountain is a Roman structure with two pools and carved shelves on the walls, and restored during the Byzantine period.

Temple of Zeus

Lying between the small theatre and the monumental fountain, the Temple of Zeus is located on the east of the colonnaded street.

Grand Church

It was constructed on the south of the columned street adjacent to it. Only some parts on which the temple was perched have still being erected.Main entrance is on the west part.

THERMAL SPRINGS

Karahayýt Thermal Spring

The waters of this spring, which is part of the Pamukkale system, is 5km south of Pamukkale and considered to be good for the heart, hypertension, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago and skin diseases.

Pamukkale Thermal and Mineral Springs

The lime solution in the water, which comes from the travertine pools 18km from Pamukkale, has therapeutic qualities that have been acknowledged for centuries. Religious ceremonies and festivals have been performed around the source of the spring, and it was a popular destination for wealthy and powerful people who came to be cured of their ailments.

Don't Leave Without

Visiting the ancient cities of Hierapolis and Leotikeia,

Seeing the colours reflected in the travertine pools at sunrise and sunset,

Bathing in the warm, therapeutic pools,

Walking around the Yesildere waterfalls.

[The March Hare]

[The March Hare]

[The March Hare]

[The March Hare]

[The March Hare]

[The March Hare]