Places to Visit - Pamukkale
Monday, 2nd November 2009
Pamukkale is a remarkable place, now a World Heritage site.It is a collection of huge hot springs, producing vast quantities of hot water and chalk. Turkish people call it the eighth wonder of the world.
Hiertapolis was built as a spa town on these springs in Roman times. Many thousands of people visited the hot springs to bathe and gain relief from their ailments. Bad joints and skin complaints were said to be cured by the waters. The surrounding area has underground volcanoes, which have often caused terrible damage.
The name Hiertapolis means “sacred city”.Hiertapolis was virtually destroyed by two large eathquakes, but was rebuilt in the 1st century AD.
The newly rebuilt city prospered and became of favourite destination. The town grew enormously, at one time the population exceeded 100,000. Many developments were undertaken, including roman baths and a large number of temples.
The Persians, and another earthquake, wreaked havoc on Hierapolis in the 7th Century, but once again the city gradually recovered, but then went into another decline, eventually being abandoned in the 14th century.
Yet another massive earthquake in 1534 destroyed most of the remains, which were covered in a thick layer of limestone. The deposits of so much calcium carbonate give the area an incredible white colour. The
It would take more than 400 years for the site to be restored, and once again it is a massive attraction for many hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Restoration work is still going on. Unregulated hotel construction threatened the site in the late 1990’s, but these offending buildings have been removed.
The site is quite remarkable, with gleaming white limestone terraces which from a distance look like snow. There is an incredible pool, with natural warm water, where the visitor can swim, and see the historic ruins littered around the base of the pool.
There are the remains of several interesting buildings at Hiertapolis.. The Apollo temple was built in the 3rd Century AD, besides an underground cavern that gave out poisonous gases. A Roman theatre, dating back to 60 AD, can be visited, as well as The Necropolis, one of the largest preserved cemetaries in Turkey.
The journey to Pamukkale from Marmaris takes about three hours by bus, but is well worth it.
