Türkiye’s Denizli region is the perfect place for a break steeped in history and wellness

euronews (in English)

The Turkish region of Denizli is a paradise for holidaymakers who are passionate about history and wellness.

Transcript

00:00This is the Turkish region of Denizli at the crossroads of the Aegean, Central Anatolia

00:10and the Mediterranean.

00:12I'm here to discover its natural and artistic wonders and delve into its fascinating past.

00:26I'm literally walking on 2,000 years of history.

00:30Welcome to Yerapolis, a known spa town from Greek and Roman times, and the perfect spot

00:36to kick off my exploration of Denizli.

00:43This archaeological site, included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, was founded

00:48in the 2nd century BC.

00:51Over 1,200 impeccably preserved marble and limestone tombs fill the spectacular necropolis

00:57with their architectural splendor.

00:59But this is not the only gem here.

01:03Look at that.

01:05That's impressive, really.

01:06We have 120 theaters like that.

01:09This is one of the five nicest ones.

01:11It's a building from 1st century AD.

01:13It's a Roman theater.

01:16The theater, which could accommodate 15,000 people, captures the grandeur of this once

01:26prosperous town.

01:29One of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century is Plutonium, the gate to hell.

01:35Deadly carbon dioxide is released from this subterranean hole, making it off-limits to

01:41humans and animals.

01:43Instead, just around the corner, there's a place where you can enjoy the therapeutic

01:47virtues of natural spring water.

01:50Pamukkale, which means cotton castle in Turkish, is extraordinarily beautiful and unique in

01:56the world.

01:57Here, you can walk barefoot along these white calcite terraces filled with mineral-rich

02:02water.

02:03This is colder than barefoot.

02:06It's 36 degrees at the source, but it becomes something like 33 degrees around here.

02:13Okay, okay.

02:16These formations were started by a chemical natural reaction 16,000 years ago, thanks

02:21to water that is super-saturated with calcium carbonate.

02:26Millions of tourists visit this iconic place every year and join its fairytale atmosphere.

02:35This region is made for people who are looking for regenerative holidays.

02:40The Pamukkale University Thermal Rehabilitation Center, a facility which contributes to medical

02:45developments, has recently opened.

02:51However, I'm at another renowned site on the northwest of Pamukkale, Karahayit.

02:56The metamorphic rocks, which are very rich in iron, give these terraces their distinctive

03:01red color.

03:02These hot springs, whose temperature is 58 degrees at the source, are used in the treatment

03:07of many diseases.

03:09The positive effects, especially for the blood circulation, you sweat also the toxins out

03:16and relax the muscles.

03:18That means you feel more light.

03:21And you can even take a mud bath.

03:23You can take directly from the ground, and then you can exactly put it on your skin 10-15

03:30minutes.

03:31To dry.

03:32To dry.

03:33And the body takes the minerals.

03:37My muscles feel much more relaxed after this.

03:45I'm ending my trip in Denizli city, where I'm meeting Aynur, a ceramic artist.

03:51The craft of pottery, rooted in Anatolian art since ancient times, preserves the cultural

03:57legacy to the present day.

04:07So it's with my hands that I'm going to create a piece of art.

04:12It's like making pastry.

04:17After shaping the clay, there is a laborious process, including drying, of course, painting,

04:23my favorite part, glazing and firing in the kiln, which takes several days.

04:29The result is a beautiful piece of pottery.

04:32Well, I can't say that I haven't indulged myself.

04:35This trip to Pamukkale in Denizli has been a pleasure for my eyes, my body, and my soul.

04:41Gorushirus!

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