We had never heard of Pamukkule prior to our trip, so it was quite a surprise to drive into the valley and see what looked like a huge, out of place, ice formation covering the side of a mountain. Pamukkule means the Cotton Castle. The formation was created by mineral rich thermal springs washing over the side of the mountain for thousands of years leaving limestone deposits. It was an incredible site and the view from the top was spectacular. There were several people hang gliding. I can't even imagine what that would be like. Can you see the crazy hang gliding enthusiasts?
YouTube Short-The Majestic Cotton Castle of Pamukkule
(one of my favorite shorts)
Pamukkule became a World Heritage site in the late 1980's. Since then, there are only a few select pools that you can enter. The ground is rough so we all wished we could have worn shoes. 😃
This guy took relaxation to a whole new level. He is an inspiration, right? #SerenityNow
The Cotton Castle is also the site of Hieropolis. It was built around the second century BC and became part of the Roman Empire about 100 years later. There have been excavations that show there were inhabitants in the area as far back as the Iron Age (1,200 BC to 600 BC).
With it being such a beautiful location, it is understandable that such notable characters, as Emperor Hadrian and Cleopatra spent time soaking in the warm baths. This is also believed to be the site of the tomb of the Apostle Philip.
We stayed at the Colossae Thermal Hotel that night. They served us delicious food. The rooms were very comfortable, and the hotel grounds were fabulous.
The really cool aspect of the hotel, though, is that they have two spas that are feed by the thermal waters of the area. The minerals contained in the water are a little different than at Pamukkule which gives the rocks reddish brown hues instead of white. The spas were very welcomed after a long day exploring Turkey and a rather large Turkish dinner.
The Temple of Artemis is considered one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the world. It was magnificent with one hundred columns and it was filled with many treasures. Below is a model of the temple featured at the Ephesus Museum.
And this is what remains at the site today. It reminds me of the old adage, "Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
The Greek Goddess, Artemis on display
at the Ephesus Museum
Thank you to Dr. Paula McDonald and Kathy Streib for hosting this month's challenge. This is my first entry!
Other Turkish Adventures
Istanbul, Turkey (Part One)
Istanbul, A Real Turkish Delight (Part Two)
Adventures in Turkey (Part Four)
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