Champagne
Mountains Pamukkale : one of the natural
wonders of Turkey, the thermal spa with its hot springs laden
with calcareous salts. As the waters spill down over the plateau
edge they have deposited their salts over the centuries to
create an extraordinary network of fantastical rock formations,
gleaming white staractites, cataracts and basins.
Ancient
Hierapolis : many visitors
are so focused on the amazing rock formations, they
barely notice that the high plateau is also the site
of the ancient spa of Hierapolis, built by Pergamon
King in the Roman era, to gain control of the springwater
and harness its reputed religious and mythical qualities.
Most of the ancient ruins are set back from the plateau
edge; the first group you come to as you walk "inland"
are the original Roman Baths, consisting of two tall,
vaulted rooms now housing a small museum. Beside this
is a "palaestra", or an open coutyard for
exercise, and behind it lie the remains of a vast Basilicia
with three naves, thought from its size to have been
the cathedral erected in the 6th century when Hierapolis
became a bishopric. Further up the plateau stands the
restored "nymphaeum" and close by is the Temple
of Apollo, recognisable by its wide flight of stairs.
The modern road follows the course of the original main
street for a mile (km) until it reaches the Monumental
Gate to the north, passing on the right the huge theatre,
still well-preserved and with some magnificent carvings
and reliefs. Do not miss the tombs that line the old
road out to Ephesus from this northern gateway. Over
1200 have been counted, making this one of the most
extensive ancient cemeteries in Asia Minor.