Cities Where Natural Beauty Meets History: Isparta, Burdur and Denizli

Cities where natural beauty meets history... When we need tranquility and peace, the green and blue beauty of nature becomes our escape route. To experience the serenity of green and blue, discover three beautiful and charming cities of the Mediterranean and Aegean. Denizli, Isparta and Burdur… These wonderful Aegean cities are our destinations for a pleasant weekend trip. First, we head to Salda Lake in Burdur.

Salda Lake

Located in the Yeşilova district of Burdur, Salda Lake is known as "Turkey's Maldives." A karstic lake, Salda is Turkey's third-largest lake. Salda Lake stands out with its clean and transparent water. Its white sand has a structure similar to rock properties on Mars. With this characteristic, it is one of only two places in the world and has become a focus of scientific interest. Salda Lake was the subject of a documentary broadcast by BBC in 2000. The white color of the beach results from the magnesium contained in the lake water. Located at the foothills of the Toros Mountains, Salda Lake's water is soda-rich; abundant in clay and magnesium. It is also a first-degree protected area and tourism center. Salda Lake offers healing to its visitors with water rich in minerals. While experiencing the peace of blue and infinity, you also feel healthy. The mud found around the lake has been proven by experts to be beneficial for skin diseases and joint pain. There is only one hotel near the lake. As it is located within a protected area, settlement is strictly prohibited here. Camping is possible in the forested area at the rear. Using the camping area and the toilet and electricity services provided by the municipality are free. You can also engage in water sports and paragliding in the lake waters. Recently preferred for honeymoons, Salda Lake has become the new favorite of wedding and nature photographers. I recommend tasting the delicious pastries prepared by local women around the lake. If you have a chance to visit restaurants within Yeşilova, I suggest trying Burdur Kebab, which is unique to Burdur.

Lavender-Scented Village: Kuyucak

Our second stop is the lavender gardens in Isparta. The lavender-scented village of Kuyucak enchants us with its views and fragrant scent. Kuyucak is attached to the Keçiborlu district of Isparta. The village, located 47 km from the city center, has a population of 250. Lavender cultivation began here in the 1970s. 93 percent of Turkey's lavender is produced in this village. The village's connection with lavender unfolds as a success story; a story of Anatolian women's success… The first step of the Lavender-Scented Village project begins with the establishment of the Village Women Entrepreneurs Cooperative. Women receive training on lavender cultivation, tourism and related topics. With the determination and talent of Anatolian women, this success story materialized in a short time. These beautiful purple flowers begin to bloom in June and are harvested by mid-July. During your visit, you can enjoy the pleasure of picking lavender and take captivating photographs. It can also be a nice alternative for your wedding photographs. You have the opportunity to purchase many products related to lavender, made by the handiwork of Anatolian women. Lavender water, lavender honey, lavender cookies, lavender pouches, lavender oil… Lavender is used in aromatherapy in addition to cosmetics. Insomnia problems in particular can be treated this way.

Isparta Museum

The museum's foundation dates back to the People's House opened in 1933. Following the completion of work, it was opened for service in 1985. The museum contains 2,953 archaeological artifacts and 12,671 coins. It consists of four sections: the Archaeology Hall, the Carpet Hall, the Ethnography Hall, and the Treasury Hall. The Archaeology Hall displays finds excavated at Harmanören, works from the ancient city of Perge, and icons belonging to the Upper Church. The Carpet Hall displays the renowned Isparta carpets, and the Ethnography Hall displays findings related to the region's culture. The Treasury Hall contains bronze and silver jewelry and coins belonging to civilizations that lived in the region. Our final stop is Denizli. Our discovery points are Pamukkale Travertines, Hierapolis Ancient City, and Laodicea Ancient City.

Pamukkale Travertines

Travertines are virtually a work of art built by nature. With spring water flowing from snow-white travertines, we feel a pleasant coolness. This is a natural marvel created by thermal waters in the Greater Meander Basin through a series of earthquakes some 400,000 years ago. Pamukkale is known for its snow-white travertines visited by millions of people every year, the enchanting Cleopatra Pool, and the Hierapolis Ancient City. It is one of 29 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List with both natural and cultural characteristics in the world. Pamukkale, along with Cappadocia, is one of the most visited natural wonders in Turkey by foreigners. These thousand-year-old snow-white terraces are composed of carbonate minerals deposited from hot spring water. Extending at heights of 100–150 meters, this terrace has thermal springs approximately 6 km away that created Pamukkale and enabled the formation of the travertines. The thermal springs that enable their formation are located here. When water saturated with calcium carbonate evaporates under the sun, the cottony appearance of white travertines initially forms in gel form, then solidifies and transforms into rocks with crystallized surfaces. In addition to calcium carbonate, the composition contains sulfate, sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and free carbon dioxide. Known since antiquity for its healing waters, it continues to welcome visitors seeking cure from then to now. Its healing waters are beneficial for digestive, respiratory, circulatory and skin diseases. Once bringing the travertines to the stage of destruction; the removal of the ancient bathhouse structure and hotels located between the travertines restored it to its former whiteness.

Hierapolis Ancient City

The Hierapolis Ancient City, located 18 km north of Denizli, is referred to in archaeological literature as "Holy City," which stems from the presence of many known temples and other religious structures in the city. The exact ancient geographical region where the city was located is debated. Hierapolis, by its geographical location, lies among various historical regions surrounding it. According to the information provided by the ancient geographer Strabo and Ptolemy, They argue that Hierapolis is a Phrygian city given its proximity to the cities of Laodikeia and Tripolis, which border the Caria region. In ancient sources, there is no information about the city's name before the Hellenistic period. The existence of life in the city before it was called Hierapolis is known due to the Mother Goddess cult.

Frontinus Street:

This street (plateia), 14 meters wide, formed the main street of the city (A.D. I century). Due to architectural understanding, it is believed to have been constructed together with a gate. A sewage system covered with monolithic cap stones runs through the middle of the street. On both sides of the street are shops, warehouses and houses with a total length of 170 meters. Built in the late period (5th–6th century), the street arrangement was altered and the street width was reduced to 8 meters. The surface of the street (platea) was completely covered with a lime layer due to spring waters (at a height of 2 meters). Compressor work was performed to open the ancient road from the lime layer.

Agora:

Following the earthquake that occurred in A.D. 60, between Frontinus Street and the slopes of the hill to the east, a wide area was reorganized as the Hierapolis Trade Agora. Before the earthquake, this area was used outside the settlement as a necropolis and workshop, with circular-planned ceramic kilns with baking rooms and embossed megaric bowls dated to the 2nd–1st century B.C. In the 2nd century A.D., one of Asia Minor's largest agorae, measuring 170 meters wide by 280 meters long, was constructed in this extensive area. Systematic research began in 1979, and as a result of excavations, the plan of the monumental area was defined, some restoration work was carried out, and the marble blocks found were arranged.

North Byzantine Gate:

The North Gate, part of the fortification system built in the Hierapolis city, is dated to the end of the 4th century A.D.; the North Gate, symmetrically positioned to the South Gate, forms the monumental entrance to the city during the Byzantine Period.

South Byzantine Gate:

Built in the 4th century A.D. It was constructed with travertine blocks and reused material including marble.

Apollo Sacred Area:

The sacred area on the terraces, with monumental structures connected by marble stairs, was dedicated to Hierapolis's most important deity. The lower terrace is surrounded by marble columns in Doric order over a wide area. The structure in the inner section indicated by the podium was previously defined as a Temple and later identified as an oracle center. The Great Apollo Temple is in Ionic order and was previously defined as the "central sacred area." In light of recent research, a third structure was also identified to the north. The monumental sacred structure is dated to the 1st century A.D., although it underwent significant changes in the 3rd century A.D.

Cleopatra Pool:

The Ancient Pool in Hierapolis city, known as Cleopatra Pool, is a structure dating from the 2nd century. Under UNESCO protection, the protected area on the World Cultural Heritage List, within the Hierapolis Ancient City, is located in the area immediately above the Pamukkale Travertines. In the 7th century A.D., an earthquake opened a crater in the center of the city, threw the city's beautiful columns into it, and the free-flowing thermal waters filled this space, creating the Ancient Pool. During the Roman Empire period, Hierapolis and its surroundings were used much like a health center/spa. It is said that the water of the Ancient Pool is beneficial for certain skin and circulation problems. There is a widespread claim that Egyptian Queen Cleopatra heard about the fame of this pool and came to visit. Since the pool is fed by thermal waters, its temperature year-round is exactly 36 degrees, the optimal human body temperature.

Laodicea Ancient City

The city built on the south bank of the Lykos River takes its name from there. In ancient sources, it is referred to as "Laodicea on the Bank of Lykos." Founded between 261–263 B.C. by Antiochus II, the city was named after Antiochus's wife, Laodice. The most important characteristic of this city is that it was Anatolia's largest trade center. A settlement in metropolitan form during the Early Byzantine period, this ancient city later became a religious center. One of Laodicea's most important works is Anatolia's largest stadium located here. The ancient city is surrounded by necropolis areas. Within it are 5 agorae, 2 theaters, 4 baths, 2 entrance gates, churches, latrines, and peristyle houses. The world's first water laws were written here, and this ancient city takes you on a journey through thousands of years of history. The artifacts that captured my attention most were the chess set of that period and the rooster figure in the reliefs.

                               

Prepared by: Nükhet Sezer

Sources https://www.pamukkale.bel.tr/fotograf-galerisi h t t p : / / w w w . l a v a n t a k o k u l u k o y . c o m / t r / i n d e x . php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id =1&Itemid=194 https://www.burdur.bel.tr/