The city contains a veritable plethora of hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate most of the year. Pamukkale means “cotton castle” and the name comes from the cotton like white pools, formed over thousands of years and is due to the calcium in the water. Several Roman emperors came to bathe in these thermal pools which were often believed to harbor healing abilities. The area is still one of the leading hot spring spots in Turkey.

THINGS TO DO:

• View the ancient ruins at Hierapolis
• Bathe in the Cleopatra Pools
• Visit the Amphitheatre
• Byzantine Church is a marvelous natural archaeological site with unusual well preserved ancient ruins
• Mineral Forest meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site used as a healing spa for thousands of years.