One of the nature wonders of Turkey… The ancient name of Pamukkale is Hieropolis which is located 17 kilometers to the North of Denizli. It has a height of 1840 meters,360 meters above the sea. Pamukkale means Cotton Castle in Turkish and it gets it name from lovely travertines that flow down the hillside from hot springs, leaving behind a soft white snow of calcium carbonate and bisodium carbonate.

You can bath in the pools as you walk up to the ancient city of Hieropolis, with its own Necropolis. At the top of the hill, you can see the Turkish country side for miles and there is a bathing pool, the water is hot and fizzy. It is a privilage to swim in the pool which is located over the ruined temple of Apollo over tumbled-down marble pillars.

It is said that Cleopatra swam here also. Pamukkale is one of the most remarkable natural sites with its cotton white plateaus, sky blue waters topping of the shallow pools and gently cascading down the drape-like stalagmites onto the lower levels for over 300 feet.

Romans used this well known mineral rich, hot volcanic spring water as a natural spa for its therapeutic powers. The great baths which serve as a museum today were constructed in the 2nd century.

In Hierapolis there is a Byzantine church, ruins of Apollo Temple, Nymphaion (a 4th century fountain) and a Necropolis with more than 1,000 cut stone sarcophagi and tombs. The Martyrium of St. Philip and a colonnaded street erected by Domitian are also located in Pamukkale.