Pamukkale: Sunken Cities and White Travertines of Healing

Everyone loves a good spa. Especially one with magical healing properties.

Pamukkale, in the coastal Aegean region of Turkey, is one such place. Well, the magic is hear-say, though I found it magical. With white stone, perfect turquoise water, and roman ruins beneath my kicking feet–it’s about as magical as one can get.

Of course, the Roman pillars beneath our feet were not an original fixture. The pillars are part of the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, which was built at the apex of this hill in 190 BC by order of King Eumenes II of Pergamum.

The Kingdom of Pergamum was a Hellenistic kingdom in this region for many years. Myth says that the kingdom was founded by Telephus, the son of the hero Heracles. Telephus’s wife was name Heira, which is where Hierapolis got it’s name.

The natural hot springs in this area have served as a therapeutic spa since the 2nd century AD. Under the Romans, 40,000 people lived here. The white rock, called travertine, comes from the thermal water depositing calcium carbonite. Unfortunately, the thermal water is slowing down, so the caretakers divert the water throughout the day to different sections of travertines.

Because of the natural thermal pools, huge hotels and spas were built in the 1900s on the edge of the travertines. In order to preserve Hierapolis, the resort buildings were taken down, but the palm trees from the resorts remain.