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Pamukkale and Hierapolis
White travertine terraces formed by hot mineral springs, with the ancient city of Hierapolis above them. A UNESCO site since 1988.
Pamukkale ("cotton castle") lies near Denizli. Hot, calcium-rich spring water flowing down the hillside has left deposits that form snow-white terraces and natural pools.
Above the terraces stands Hierapolis, founded by the kings of Pergamon at the end of the 2nd century BC, with a theatre, baths, a vast necropolis and an ancient pool where visitors swim among fallen columns.
To protect the travertines, walking on the terraces in shoes is forbidden. "Hierapolis-Pamukkale" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 as a mixed natural and cultural site.
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Updated: October 2, 2026