Information about Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale is located in the Aegean Region near Denizli. It's an important tourism center with its unique natural limestone terraces and thermal pools. The calcium rich water deposits make for beautiful snowy travertines and the name Pamukkale means 'Cotton Castle'. Pamukkale was already a famous thermal spa center in Roman times and still is today because of its healing waters. In the Byzantine Era, Hierapolis became a bishopric and a church was built and was dedicated to St. Philip. The bath, the church, the theater, the temple and the huge necropolis are some of the important ruins. Near Pamukkale are the ruins of Laodicea (one of the 7 churches) are nearby and so are the fantastic ruins and museum of Aphrodisias, which is still being excavated. A tour of Pamukkale may be done in one day from Kusadasi or Selcuk.