Turkey's Cotton Castle, a breathtaking natural wonder.
The cascading snowy white limestones and natural springs of thermal water in this famous world heritage site known as Pamukkale is undeniably one of Turkey’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights.
Pamukkale, which literaly means "cotton castle" in Turkish is one of the world’s natural wonders. Located in the inner Aegean region of Turkey in the province of Denizli, the city is rich with natural hot springs, travertines, and stunning terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.
Pamukkale’s gleaming white terraces of calcium carbonate minerals are made of travertines or sedimentary rocks left by the flowing water from the hot springs. The city has a total of about 17 hot springs where many people have bathed in its pools for thousands of years as they have been considered therapeutic since the time of the Romans.
Built right on top of the stunning cotton castle is the ancient city of Hierapolis which can easily be viewed from the top of the hills on the opposite side of the River Menderes valley. Hierapolis was founded around 190 B.C. by the Pergamene king Eumenes II. The city became an early thermal spa center famous for its natural healing powers. During the Roman period, Hierapolis was one of the wealthiest towns of Asia Minor, adorned with many magnificent marble buildings. Its wealth continued into the Byzantine period when the town became an early center of Anatolian Christianity.
Both Pamukkale and Hierapolis are natural sites which have become very popular tourism attractions in Turkey. UNESCO has recognized both Pamukkale and Hierapolis as World Heritage Sites in 1988.
Festivals in Denizli
- Honaz Cherry Festival - May or June
- Civril Culture and Apple Festival - September
- Akalan Melon Watermelon Festival - September
- Buldan - Yenicekent Sultaniye / Seedless Grape Festival - July
- Yesilyuva Shoemakers and Friendship Festival - July
- Pepper Festival - July
- Acipayam Culture Festival - August
- International Pamukkale Music and Culture Festival - September
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