PAMUKKALE AND HIEROPOLIS

You can go there early in the morning, before the arrival of the tourist buses and the sun, or in the afternoon, when the setting sun decorates the white rocks with multicolored reflections. Be careful, remove your shoes before walking on the wet surface. Note that it is also forbidden to bathe in the basins, as well as to wet your feet in the canals. The remains are scattered, so plan on 3 hours if you want to see everything.

Thermal baths. Open every day from 9am to 12:30pm and from 1:30pm to 6pm. Entrance fee. The impressive complex of the thermal baths proves the importance that the Romans gave to the ritual of hygiene which concerned as much the ordinary citizen as the athletes. Originally, the large vaulted rooms were covered with marble. Today they house an archaeological museum with some interesting statues.

Street with porticoes. This street, approximately 13 m wide, crossed the city with, at each end, a monumental door. The part lined with columns is located in the old commercial district of Hierapolis. It leads to the Domitian Gate, built in 82 AD, in honor of the emperor.

Theater. This well-preserved Roman theater, which could seat 25,000 spectators, is the venue for the Pamukkale Festival of Art every summer. The stage is decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs representing Artemis, Apollo and Dionysus.

Plutonium. After passing the ruins of a temple of Apollo of the ^IInd century, as well as the nymphaeum, a monumental fountain, we arrive at Plutonium. This famous cave dedicated to Pluto, the ruler of the dead, gives off a toxic gas capable of killing the common man, but not the eunuch priests. It is strongly advised not to try the experience.

Martyrion of Saint-Philippe. Octagonal building built to commemorate the martyrdom of the apostle Philip (80 AD). It is not certain that it houses the tomb of the saint. However, it was here that the great processions took place on the anniversary of his death.

Necropolis. Certainly the most interesting part of the visit, at least for those who will not be disturbed by the impressive number of tombs suggesting apocalyptic pictures. Many of the sick who came here in the hope of being cured by the miraculous thermal waters never saw their homeland again. At least their relatives had the consolation of thinking that buried in this place, communicating directly through its gaseous crevices with the afterlife, they would not have too painful a journey..