Pamukkale

Rich in calcium, hot waters emerging from underground flow down the slopes, depositing the minerals they contain and gradually creating white terraces, natural pools and cascading formations. Resembling a snow-covered hillside when viewed from a distance, this distinctive landscape gave the area its name, “Pamukkale”. Shaped by nature over thousands of years, this extraordinary scenery is significant not only for its beauty but also for the historical heritage surrounding it.

Located immediately beside Pamukkale, the ancient city of Hierapolis was founded in the 2nd century BCE during the reign of the Kingdom of Pergamon. Known for its thermal waters, the city became an important centre in antiquity, attracting people seeking healing and relaxation. Hierapolis flourished during the Roman period, when its theatre, baths, temples, colonnaded streets and one of the largest necropolises (ancient cemeteries) in southwestern Anatolia were built. During the Byzantine period, it also became an important religious centre for Christianity. The killing of Aziz Philippus here gave the city particular significance in the Christian world.

What makes Pamukkale unique is the meeting of natural beauty and human history within a single landscape. On one side lie the white travertine terraces, formed over thousands of years; on the other stand the remains of Hierapolis, shedding light on the daily life, beliefs and architecture of the ancient world. Visitors to this extraordinary landscape can experience both the scenery created by nature and the traces left by different civilisations. Pamukkale and Hierapolis were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 in recognition of their natural and cultural significance.