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Izmir - Pamukkale
Pamukkale is 250 km. from Izmir. One way ride takes 3,5 - 4 hours, it seems too far for a daily excursion departing from Izmir, but there is a beautiful countryside and panorama along the road that you can enjoy. Pamukkale is famous for its thermal waters and for its Roman city called Hierapolis.
Pamukkale - The Ruins of Hierapolis
Hierapolis catches many visitors off guard; they come for the bright white travertines and discover an impressive ruined city. The ruins back up to the edge of the cotton cliffs, sprawling outside their walls to all sides.
In a city filled with interesting sites, the most interesting feature is surely the Temple of Apollo. To get there walk directly in from the terraces, passing the Pamukkale Motel on your right, then the former city fountain before arriving at the Temple of Apollo, which is posted with a sign.
This was the central deity of Hierapolis, having supplant¬ed Cybele, but one intriguing aspect of worship remained unchanged; priests of Cybele and Apollo where both guardians of the Plutonium, a cave to the south of the Temple, on the far side of the current road, wherein noxious gases accumulated, lethal to whatever entered.
The priests were immune, whether by height or the ability to hold their breath, but the gas proved deadly to the unwitting sacrificial
birds and livestock they ushered in. The deadly gas was associated with Hades, both venerated and feared. Gases still escape from the collapsed cave, which has led to the opening being closed off from those more curious than sensible.
The theatre, near the Temple, is in remarkably good shape, with a particularly intact stage building and a collection of relief and columns.
Now that you are in the right spirit, the northern necropolis is deserving of a visit. One of several necropolis outside the city walls, the northern section has the most impressive set of tombs. From the Plutonium, return to the main avenue and take a right, following the path north. This takes you in the direction of the Colonnade of Domitian, where you pass a former basilica on your right just before exiting the necropolis, and was once the road to Ephesus.
Hierapolis proved a crossroads even in death, as the citizens of the city chose to be buried in various ways according to different traditions. Perhaps the most outstanding tombs are the circular tombs, some of which remain roofed. The tomb of the Apostle Phillip, by the way, is located just outside the city walls to the east, right of the old Hellenistic theatre. It is a square building with several chambers, and was akin to Christian temple.
Baths & Hot Springs in Pamukkale
After taking in more of the ruins, head back toward the baths. You're welcome to settle where you like, but to enjoy the baths to their fullest stop in at the Pamukkale Motel, whose pool is at the back of the springs. Here, for an hourly admission fee (2$ per hour), you can steep in the fresh water as it rises from beneath the earth. You may also find yourself your own pool on the terraces below and let the water trickle past.
The Pamukkale Museum is next to the motel and exhibits are captioned in English. Museum entry is included with the admission fee. If you can't get enough of healing waters, the region has other marvelous baths, with deposits and curative effects of various kinds. The Karahayit and Killegen baths cascade down in pools similar to those at Pamukkale, only vibrantly colored like something from Willy Wonka. These baths are five kilometers north of Pamukkale, and are supposed to help those with arthritis, rheumatism, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, gout, and digestive disorders.
