İnformation About Denizli

Area : 11.868 km² 

Population : 850.029 (2000) 

Traffic Code : 20 

Denizli famous with roosters, has rich history and culture. Denizli is a tourism center to be seen with its Hierapolis and Laodikeia, Tripolis, antic cities, hot springs and Pamukkale which is unique in the world with its travertines.,

Distircts:Denizli (center), Acıpayam, Akköy, Babadağ, Baklan, Bekilli, Beyağaç, Bozkurt, Buldan, Tavas, Çameli, Çal, Çardak, Çivril, Güney, Honaz, Kale, Sarayköy, Serinhisar.

How to Get

Highway :Denizli is accessible from every region of country by road. Choach station is in the city center.

Railway:City is connected to Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir by railway. Railway route following Denizli - Aydın - İzmir highway occupies the connection of the city to İzmir. Railway station is in the city center.

Airway :There is an airport 5 km away from county center at Çardak county of Denizli city. Airport is located at Çardak county 65 km away from city center. 

Where to Visit

Museums and Ancient Cities

Hierapolis Archeology Musuem : One of the biggest buildings of Hierapolis antique city,Roman Bath has been giving service as Hierapolis Archeology Musuem since 1984. 

At the museum, besides the creations engraved from Hierapolis city, traces of Laodikeia, Colossai, Tripolis, Attuda, Lycos (Çürüksu) Valley cities can be found. Moreover, important part of the museum consists of archeological creations unearthed at Beycesultan Tumulus which presents the best samples of Bronze Age. Pieces of art revealed from some of the settlements within Karia, Psydia and Lydia regions are also collected and exhibited in Hierapolis Museum. 

Open hours to visit: Summers: 08.00 - 19.00, Winter: 08.00 - 17.00 (except Mondays) Tel :( 258) 272 20 34 

Atatürk Ethnography Museum : Located in the city center ,the building currently serves as a museum, the construction date of which is not certain. At the upper floor of the museum, ethnographic cultural assets such as clothes, jewelers, house furniture, guns, rugs, carpets majority of which are remained from Ottoman Period are on exhibit. Moreover in the room where Atatürk rested during his visit to Denizli, there are a wradrobe, bedstead adorned with brass,sofa and a work table in baroque style. 

Open hours to visit: Summers: 08.00 - 19.00, Winters: 08.00 - 17.00 (except Mondays) Tel : (258) 241 08 66 

Tripolis: It is at the 40 km north of Denizli city center. It is built on the slopes between Büyük Menderes River and Yenicekent Town,Buldan county, east from Yenicekent town. Tripolis is one of the cities in Lydia region was a trade, agriculture and border center as the junction point between Karya and Frigia.

It was one of the richest cities of region with its architecture and maner of establishment. It is estimated that city was build by Bergama Kingdom. Best samples of monument buildings were built during 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries. Mentioning of the nameTripolis in the list of the bishops of the Lydia in Nikea council in 325 AC, means that city was in the condition of episcopacy. 

Tripolis Buildings 

Theater: It is in the city center and built with Roman construction style and in a suitable way for formation of area. 

Public Bath: It takes place approximately 200 m. east of the theater. It is located at the outer side of the city ramparts.Outer walls are partly survived. 

Castle and Ramparts: Tripolis surrounded by ramparts during Late Roman and Byzantine Period. Built on sloping grounds, ramparts of the city were supported by bastions, watchtowers and thick walls in some parts. 

Necropolis: It is at the east and south slopes of the ramparts. In this place rock tombs, graves with podiums and tombs can be seen. 

Colossae : It is located at 25 km south of Denizli city and 2 km north of Honaz County. It is on the south roadway that has been used since Ancient times. It is one of the most important centers placed in Great Frigia. It is one of the 6 biggest cities of Frigia according to Ksenephon. 

There is a castle ruin remained from Ottoman Period. Ruins of Colossae antic city, an Acropolis, can be seen around tumulus hill and surrounding areas. At north of tumulus, there are tombs engraved to rock to be built as room and house type. 

Herakleia Salbace : City is in the borders of Vakıf Village which is 10 km north west of Tavas county, Denizli city. Important buildings are ramparts surrounding the city and stadium belonging to Roman Period. 

Artemis and Leto : It is at approximately 4 km east of Herakleia Salbace antique city and 1 km north east of present Tavas - Kızılcabölük Town, built on a place named Ören Sırtı (ruin ridge) and Kocapınar locality. Perched on the ridges of Babadağ Mountain with its rectangular shape,Hieron has relieves on its surface that figure out the mythological scenes about Artemis, Apollo, Pan, Dionysus and Hercules.

Mosques and Tombs

Acıpayam Yazır Mosque : According to the inscription on the entrance gate of the Mosque, it was built in 1801. Mosques' walls which are very rich and interesting in terms of decoration, are adorned with 3 lined panels of pictures.

Boğaziçi Mosque : The mosque was built during Seljuk Period in Baklan county, Boğaziçi town. It is inside the wooden columned type of mosques. Rich and various wooden patterns by means of decorative perspective can be seen. 

Tombs : Servergazi Tomb (Yeşilköy), Mehmet Gazi Tomb (at Big grave yard), Fatma Hanım (Yıldız) Tomb (at Big grave yard), Ahi Sinan Tomb, Mahmut Gazi Tomb, Yatağan Baba Tomb ve Hüsamettin Bey Tomb are main tombs that are to be seen in Denizli.

Inns and Caravanserais

Akhan Inn : It is 7 km from Denizli, and located on Denizli - Afyon highway. Caravanserai was built in between the 1253 - 1254. In one of the two inscription of the caravanserai, name and reputations of II. İzzettin Keykavus are described. Hanım portal (corona gate)is magnificient with its geometrical and pastel adornments. It has dense embellishment with Deer, sphinxes, and bird shaped figures, palm, and plants shaped motifs. 

Çardakhan Caravanserai : It is located outside the Çardak county center. According to its inscription, it was built during I. Alaaddin Keykubad Period, in 1230. It is a caravanserai having the properties of Sultan Inns.

Thermal Springs

Çizmeli (Yenice) Thermal : It is in the borders of Yenicekent that 16 km far away to Buldan county. It is at the outskirts of Menderes River and accessible through passing the Tripolis antic city ruins. It has good effects on some of the health problems such as Rheumatism, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, skin disease, and hemorrhoids.

Gölemezli Çamur Thermal : It is near the Gölemezli village depended to Akköy County. It is formed with 4 springs. Each spring has different quality. First one uses as mud bath. It used for curative effects on skin diseases.

Babacık (Kabaağaç) Thermal : It is at the Kaabaağaç Village 3 km away from Tekke köyü hot spring, Sarayköy county.

Tekkeköy Thermal : It is near the Village at Sarayköy County. It is 20 km away from Sarayköy, and hot waters springs from various places. Public Bath remains from Rome period contains pool and dressing rooms. Hot spring waters has curative effects on rheumatism, skin, gynecological and urethra diseases.

Kızıldere Hot Spring : It springs from red colored stones, 11 km away from Sarayköy Village. The complex includes a two domed turkish bath(hamam), two bathing place, pool and dressing rooms. It is good for rheumatism and weariness.

Geography

Though located in Aegean region, Denizli is not totally effected with the Aegean climate. Instead, due to its being placed on the transition point between coast line and the inner parts, Denizli to a certain extent displays a terrestrial climate. Denizli province is open to the winds coming from the sea because of the perpendicular extension of the mountains. Winter months are warm and rainy.

History

Denizli city was established 6 km north of the present location of the city, within the neighbourhood of Eskihisar Village. The city was built by II Antiokos for the name of his wife in between the years of 261 - 246 B.C and gave its name to Laodikeia. This name of the city had been used till the invasions of the Muslim.The current name of the city Denizli, once Tonguzlu, has taken its form through an evolutionary process. Later Persians, Great Alexander, Romans and Byzantine, Seljuks, Govermentals and Ottomans took control of the city. After Turks conquered Denizli and its environs,the center of the city became Kaleiçi due to its rich water resources.

Where to Eat

Authentic cuisine of the city includes pirinç çorbası (rice soup), keşkek, kuru fasulye (haricot bean), chickpea, sarma, dolma, bulgur pilavı, kabak (vegatable marrow), soğan yahnisi (meat stew with onions).

What to Buy

All Denizli city textiles are very famous with patterned, colorful silver like woolen silk clothes, and other fabrics especially peculiar to Buldan and shops exhibit and sell these products.

Don't Leave Without

- Visiting natural wonders of unique travertines, curative hot spring of Pamukkale which are renowned for thier rolein healing lots of diseases; moreover visiting thermal springs such as Karahayıt and Yenice,

- Seeing Hierapolis, Laodikeia, Colossae, Tripolis and Heraclaia settled by various civilizations, and holy places of antique age,

- Going to an important shopping center Kaleiçi, and visiting Babadağlılar shopping mall placed at city center for buying towel, bathrobe and other textile products,

- Making picnic at Çamlık promenade placed on the slopes of Mount Karcı, a place unique with its air, water and panorama,