Pamukkale: the eighth wonder of the world you must see

I have always been attracted to history and unusual places. Therefore, when I had to choose what is the most spectacular and memorable thing to see in Turkey, I unreservedly ticked off the Pamukkale tour.

The most necessary things you should bring with you on the tour are comfortable shoes (as you will have to walk a lot and on unstable ground), a hat (to protect yourself from the active sun on the top of the mountain, especially in summer and due to the virtually no vegetation) and sunglasses (it is simply impossible to look at this beautiful whiteness without squinting).

Pamukkale is one big complex, with a mountain with travertines, as well as the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis and Cleopatra's Pool. And now about everything in order!

Pamukkale, or, as locals call it, "Cotton Castle", is one of the most visited places in Turkey. It is a unique natural accumulation of hot springs, the temperature of which reaches +38ºC and more.

This eighth wonder of the world was formed several thousand years ago by the deposition of calcium oxide salts contained in the water flowing down from the mountains. This is how the travertines (as they are commonly called) were formed. At the moment there are 17 types of thermal waters.

Since ancient times people have used these places as a medical center: they took thermal and mud baths, drank mineral waters. Such procedures, by the way, can cure many diseases (rheumatism, psoriasis, skin and stomach diseases, bronchitis), relieve stress and rejuvenate the body.

You can book a hotel in Pamukkale with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Cleopatra 's Pool used to be called "Roman Pool", but was renamed in the 90s. According to some legends, the Egyptian queen liked to take baths here to preserve her youth and beauty. I stayed in the pool for about two hours and came out of there as if reborn! The water is enriched with many minerals, air bubbles and retains its temperature (+35ºC) at any time of the year.

Ruins of the city of Hierapolis, which came into being thanks to the king of Pergamum, Eumenes II, in 190 BC. It was known in Roman aristocratic circles as a resort town.

Earthquakes occurred here quite often, the most powerful of which finally destroyed the city in 1354. The place was forgotten until the end of the XIX century, when the first excavations began.

They are still in progress, and the restoration process is gaining momentum. The most impressive places are the ancient theater, designed for 15 thousand spectators, the ruins of the temple of Apollo, the Arch of Domitian, the Church of St. Philip, many burial places.

Since 1998, Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are protected.

Pamukkale is such a unique place that it is sometimes hard to imagine how so much beauty and history can fit on this piece of land!