Hierapolis Ancient City

Hierapolis, an ancient spa city in the Roman and Byzantine periods and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located 20 km away from Denizli city center. This region is known as Pamukkale, home to a world-famous marvel of calcite travertine filled with warm, mineral-rich waters. Pamukkale is a popular thermal center; its calcium and iron rich waters are believed to have healing properties. The ancient city above Pamukkale was founded by the King of Bergama Eumenies II in the 2^nd century BCE and it is believed to honor the name of Hiera, the wife of Telephos, the legendary founder of ancient Pergamum.

The city grew and stood out thanks to its hot springs. Pamukkale is famous for its calcite travertines (or terraces) filled with warm, mineral-rich waters. The region where Pamukkale is located has a special structure with its thermal springs originating from Lykos (Çürüksu) Valley. In Hierapolis, you can see baths, temples and ruins of ancient theater. You can swim in the Cleopatra Pool, a spring rumored that the Egyptian Queen took a bath.

Hierapolis, the city where Saint Philippus, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, was killed, is one of the sacred settlements in terms of Christianity. It was declared a religious center in the century in the 4^th century CE, and during the Byzantine period, became Episcopal Center. The Tomb of St. Phillipus (Aziz Phillipus Mezarı) and the Martyrium, unearthed as a result of excavations in the ancient city, are among the sacred structures of Christianity.

The old Roman bath located in Hierapolis Ancient City (Hierapolis Antik Kenti) has now been converted to Hierapolis Archeology Museum (Hierapolis Arkeoloji Müzesi). You can visit the various archaeological finds unearthed in and around Hierapolis in the halls of the museum with stone blocks made of travertine.