Pamukkale: how to get there and why it's worth visiting

Pamukkale means "castle of cotton" in Turkish. And in fact, it looks like a huge mountain of cotton or a fairy-tale snow-white castle glistening in the sun. In fact, it's a mountain of limestone. Travertines - small pools filled with warm mineral water - cascade down its slopes.

The symbol of Pamukkale is the ancient pool, which was formed as a result of an earthquake in the 7th century A.D. It attracts millions of visitors every year. The main reason is the great benefit of this body of water for human health. The waters of the pool help in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, blood pressure, rheumatism, rickets, nervous and vascular diseases, paralysis, skin and eye diseases, and ingestion is useful for stomach cramps. One of the peculiarities of the antique pool is its constant temperature (36º), which allows visitors to bathe in it at all times of the year.

There is also an interesting legend associated with this pool. Several centuries ago, Cleopatra, famous for her unusual beauty, felt that her beauty was fading. In search of means to preserve her youth, Cleopatra ordered her soldiers to find and bring her therapeutic water to prolong her attractiveness, and the soldiers went all over the world in search of a miraculous liquid for their queen. One of the places they reached was a pool in Pamukkale. Having taken a sample of this water, the warriors immediately took it to Cleopatra. As Cleopatra washed her face with it, she felt the wrinkles on her face gradually smoothing out, and without wasting time, she went to the pool and plunged into its warm waters. When immersed in water, the body is covered with thousands of bubbles, and the sensation is as if bathing in a pool of champagne. And the rejuvenating effect does not make you wait. There is still a belief that one visit to Cleopatra's pool rejuvenates for 10 years!

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

How to get there?

The closest cities to the Aegean coast, such as Marmaris. The journey from Marmaris to Pamukkale will take 1.5-2 hours. Local operators offer excursions from $30. It is also possible to rent a car (about 15$/day) and drive yourself for 1,5 hours.

If to go on excursion from resort cities of Antalya coast (Antalya, Kemer, Side, Belek, Alanya), the road will be rather tiresome - about 7 hours one way, if to go from Alanya. The cost of local operators' tours is $60-100. Tours for 2 days are also organized for these regions, within which guests stay in hotels near Pamukkale. The pools of these hotels, filled with healing mineral water of the same Cleopatra's pool. By the way, for decades German tourists have been going to these regions in winter for several weeks in specially organized SPA-tours.

What else is there to see?

For those who love not only beauty and recovery, but also history, there are also interesting places to visit, such as the ancient cities of Hierapolis and Ephesus. Hierapolis was considered a Sacred City both in pagan times and in the Christian period. The reason for this was the death by crucifixion of St. Philip, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, who preached Christianity in the 80s AD in the city. In addition, the city has preserved an ancient theater, the construction of which began in 62 AD and lasted 144 years.

No less interesting in terms of history and Christian religion was the city of Ephesus, founded in the most beautiful part of Western Anatolia and dedicated to the goddess of fertility Artemis, whose temple is partially preserved. There is evidence that the Apostle John wrote the Gospel in Ephesus and that the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life here. The House of St. Mary is still a place of pilgrimage for many Christians, especially women, who ask the Virgin's blessing for a future family.

There were many private libraries in Greek Ephesus, but the first public library did not appear until the Roman era. The Celsus Library contained some 12,000 parchment scrolls. When Ephesus was sacked and burned by the Goths, many public buildings perished, but the library, which was burned inside, miraculously survived, remaining almost unharmed from the outside. There were also many underground passages in the city. One of them was used by the readers of the library, those who needed to discreetly move from the house of knowledge to the house of love.

Prostitution in Roman society existed legally, but the norms of morality, especially for state husbands, were quite strict. In an enlightened city, the priestesses of love knew no shortage of clients. Their services were used by everyone, but people of honorable, family people still visited the houses of love under the cover of night or sneaked underground, which was even more convenient, because the best brothel in the city was located just opposite the library.

In addition, during the walk in Ephesus, you will have the opportunity to see how the public toilets of those times looked like - they were a kind of men's clubs. Entrance was paid, which did not embarrass anyone, because it was the only place where men could gather in close male company to discuss the news for hours under the murmuring jets of the fountain. It was in these times (69-79 AD) Vespasian introduced a tax on public restrooms and the famous expression "money does not smell" (Pecunia non olet) appeared.

It is for you to decide with what purpose to go to this fabulous area, but one thing is clear - no one will be disappointed with what they have seen, especially since, according to beliefs, a 15-minute bath in Cleopatra's pool prolongs life for 5 years.