Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!

Directions To Get Started:

Back at the E5 crossroads, go east 800 meters (2,600 feet) along the road from the synagogue. Off to the north, about 50 meters (165 feet) is a Byzantine crucifortn church, and 250 meters (820 feet) northwest of it is another in basilica form. East of these two buildings, 700 meters (2,300 feet), is a baths. To the northeast of the gymnasium are burial mounds. On the south side of the E5, 300 meters (1,000 feet) east of the mudbrick monument, is the area of the Roman agora. East again, 150 meters (500 feet), is a vaulted substructure, then 50 meters (165 feet) to the east is another building that is probably Roman. Southeast from here, 200 meters (660 feet), are the stadium and, further south, the theater and a Byzantine fortress. East of the stadium, 350 meters (1,150 feet), is an Odeon. One important find of 1985 was a childs’ grave of the tenth century BC.

PAMUKKALE

Located 20 kilometers from the town of Denizli, Pamukkale is one of the most interesting places in the world, justly famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains. The calcium oxide-rich waters flowing down the southern slope of Çaldag located north of the ruins have, over the millennia, built up deposits of white travertine on the plateau thus fully justifying both the site's ancient name of Hierapolis-Holy City-and its modern one of Pamukkale-Cotton Castle. -Let us now take a tour of this supernal spot.

Ancient Hierapolis appears to have been founded by King Eumenes II of Pergamon and its name is derived from Hiera, the wife of King Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamon. The city became subject to Rome in 133 B.C. In 17 B.C. during the reign of Tiberius it suffered a heavy earthquake that substantially destroyed the city, requiring it to be rebuilt.

At the top of the ridge are the ruins of Hierapolis. The minibus stops in an open square, not far from a Roman baths of the first century, dating from the reign of Tiberius when the city was built after an earthquake. Now the museum (entrance fee 7,OOOTL), the grounds of the baths feature a display of statuary, inscribed stelae and other recovered items. During summer months a mobile bank is likely to be standing near the entrance to the museum, offering foreign exchange facilities.

Along the lower, northeastern end of the square are the premises of the Pamukkale Motel, which includes a restaurant and changing cabins on the right. Behind the motel, on the left, is a nymphaeum, and above this on the hillside is the site of the Temple to Apollo. Higher and to the east is the theater, clearly visible from the square, and a roadway allows tour buses to drive up to the top. Above and to the east of the theater is a Byzantine church, and above again there are sections of the city walls.

On the right of the motel is a ruined Byzantine basilica, and above, on a line with the nymphaeum, was the entrance to the plutonium, in which the noxious fumes from an underground stream inspired an oracle's prophecies. Above the basilica, on the hill, is the site of the agora, and away to the right of the basilica, continuing in the direction of a colonnaded street, is the South Gate.

On the left or northwestern side of the main square, the remains of the colonnaded street lead northerly to the North Gate of the city. Below this, running from the square, a road leads along the ridge of the plateau to a number of hotels and motels, all of which have their curative water and pools. The road continues for three kilometers (1.9 miles) to the village of Karahayit. At one point it meets and runs parallel with the colonnaded street where it leads through ruined public buildings and private houses, among which a basilica is conspicuous, before entering, by way of an Arch of Domitian, a necropolis of many impressive tombs. On the hillside, well above the necropolis, and to the east of it, is the fifth-century Martyrium of St Philip, dedicated to the apostle who died here for his faith in AD 80.

The Roman agora is behind the museum and in this area there are other motels with their pools, with the Ministry of Tourism's information office nearby.

LADIK (LAODICEA)

The church of this ancient city was one of the biblical Seven Churches of Asia. St. Paul's stricture on Laodicean Christianity has provided the English language with the epithet 'laodicean', meaning neither positive nor negative, neither hot nor cold. The city is situated below a hill near the village of Eskihisar, with its citadel on the hilltop. The Roman ruins include a stadium, gymnasium, odeon and theater.

APHRODISIAS

Aphrodisias stands on a low plateau under Baba Dag, the mountain where the marble for its buildings was quarried. The site is under excavation and reconstruction, and many sections are roped off to prevent visitors from entering, nevertheless, there is much of great interest to see. From the car park entrance ticket (fee 5,OOOTL plus 5,OOOTL for the museum), a short roadway leads into a square that was the village of Geyre until this was demolished and the inhabitants transplanted to a new village of Geyre nearby. On the left of the square is a cafe and a reconstructed timbered building, and on the right, on the northeast comer, is the museum.

Take the path to the left just below the cafil A columned structure is next to a Byzantine chapel with a number of sarcophagi. There are many of these stone coffins off the approach road to the square, and perhaps the line of the city's walls was there, with the tombs outside the walls. The pathway skirts the headquarters and workshops of the archaeological expedition to reach the theater. The area is roped, but you can still climb the hill to enter the theater at the level of its uppermost tiers, and then look down to the columned facade, dressing rooms, proscenium (stage) and orchestra. in front is a paved court with a stoa and a circular altar, a gymnasium and, on the right-hand side, a columned temple or basilica with an ornamental gateway. What could be a second agora is there, too. All this makes an impressive view from above.

The area on the right of the theater, as you descend, is also roped, where a large and lengthy main agora is under excavation and reconstruction. You move on round to another portico, that of Tiberius, to the area of Hadrian's Baths, a complex that includes a gymnasium, a palaestra (exercise ground) and a columned pool or ornamental fountain. The tiled court of the palaestra has a number of tiles inscribed in Greek.

Useful Stuff / Tips:

*Get there early, and plan on leaving within several hours! This is a great site to behold, but once the busses start rolling in; and you've had your fun...get out quickly.

*Get there as part of an overnight thru trip. It's easy to see the travertine, (before their completely destroyed), and Hierapolis in a matter of 4 hours.

* The prices there are brutally inflated for the tourists, bring snacks/food and water; or buy some tasty fresh bread in town.

* Free entrance to the entire travertine area can be accessed via a small trail which runs up the left spine of the formations. The trail is found off of the main route leading to the entrance. The climb is easy, and actually more scenic than the gate!

*Getting There...

BY TRAIN

Rail fares are comparatively cheap. Many trains of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) have sleeping cars, couchettes and restaurant cars, but there is no air-conditioned accommodation. Fares are more expensive for express and mail trains, even though express trains are relatively slow, and some routes are indirect. Steam engines, such as the Anatolia Express which traverses eastern Turkey, are retained for tourist trains on some routes. Tickets can be purchased at TCDD offices at railway stations and TCDD-appointed agents. TCDD offer discounts of 20 % to holders of ISTC cards. Children under 7 travel free; children aged 7-11 pay half fare. Discount fares are available for Students (10 % off), Groups (30 % off for groups of 24 or more), Roundtrips (20 % off) and Sport Teams (50 % off for groups of five or more).

BY CAR

There is an extensive road maintenance and building program; 1400 km (900 miles) of motorway are under construction. Traffic drives on the right. In case of an accident, contact the Turkish Touring & Automobile Association (Turkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu). Tel: (312) 213 9761.

Car hire: Both chauffeur and self-drive cars are available in all large towns. All international companies are represented. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required for visits of over 3 months.

BY BUS

Coach: Many private companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities. Services are often faster than trains and recent competition between operators has led to lower fares. Tickets are sold at the bus or coach companies’ branch offices either at stations or in town centres. One should shop around the ticket offices for the best prices. Coaches depart from the bus stations (otogar) in large towns and from the town centre in small towns.

*URBAN TRAVELS:

Bus and trolley-bus: Extensive conventional bus (and some trolleybus) services operate in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. There are buses in all other large towns. These are generally reliable, modern and easy to use, although publicity is non-existent. Tickets are bought in advance from kiosks and dropped into a box by the driver. Taxi: There are many types of taxi, shared taxi and minibus in operation. Taxis are numerous in all Turkish cities and towns and are recognisable by their chequered black and yellow bands. Metered taxis are available. For longer journeys, the fare should be agreed beforehand.

A dolmus is a collective taxi which follows specific routes and is recognisable by its yellow band. Each passenger pays according to the distance travelled to specific stops. The fares are fixed by the municipality. The dolmus provides services within large cities to suburbs, airports and often to neighbouring towns. This is a very practical means of transport and much cheaper than a taxi. Taxis may turn into a dolmus and vice versa according to demand. Ferries: There are extensive cross-Bosphorus and short-hop ferries between the parts of Istanbul. In 1988 a second bridge over the river was opened. Metro: There are plans to construct a metro system in Ankara.

*If you get there to Pamukkale early enough, and make your way up to the travertine terraces (via the free climbing route), it's quite easy to drop you clothing in a niche and slide over a wall into a nice hotel (surrounded!) pool of mineral joy...

Trailmonkey can not officially suggest or condone any of this, but the whole thing is being so exploited and destroyed, that we figured at least you'll remember to take your shoes off while on the terraces, and not support any of the hotels fencing off national treasures!

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