Denizli
Situated in the inner part of the Aegean Region,
is Denizli, a tourism city with its numerous beauty.
Dating back to the Calcholithic age, this was the
site of a settlement of the earliest communities, and changed hands
continuously, becoming the center of various civilizations in different time
periods. The ancient city of Laodikeia is here, within the borders of Denizli,
with its ruins awaiting for the sightseers. In addition to Triopolis which was
known as the center of bishops, while Christianity spread. Hierapolis is another
Ancient City, being a historical treasure, while it also offers a real wonder of
nature. Named, as today "Pamukkale", this place is astonishingly beautiful, and
unique in the world with its white travertine offering marvelous scenery.
The wide forests and numerous picnicking and
camping areas here contribute to this natural and archaeological richness, while
its position as a stopover between the major provinces like Izmir, Ankara and
Antalya, increases the tourist attraction of Denizli. The thermal resorts also
attract visitors to the provinces with their spring waters of therapeutic
effects Gemezli, Cezmeli, Tekke and Kizildere are the main spa resorts, besides
the thermal centers of Pamukkale and Karahayit.
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
A miraculous site, unique and world famous for
its fascinating formation of white petrified cascades is Pamukkale located 20
kms from Denizli.
This fairyland of "Cotton Castle" is a marvelous
spectacle, created by a beautiful composition of cataracts, pools and
stalactites. The grounds of white travertine gleam under the sun, as the waters
flow mildly over.
Nearby is the ancient "Hierapolis" (the Holy
City). Here stands a magnificent theater affording a wonderful view of the land
below, and the Temple of Apollo, representing the Hellenistic period.
Since the earliest times of history, Pamukkale
has been chosen for its therapeutic mineral waters. The site today is a fine
spa-center with its warm pools and numerous facilities provided nearby.
Karahayit
To the northwest of Pamukkale, is Karahayit,
another thermal center with curative waters of a high iron content. The
specialty of this site is the interesting formation made by the water, with the
most beautiful tones of glittering red. You will want to make this extraordinary
scene eternal by taking some photographs, and the originality of the region is
reflected on these photos.
Standing since the 3rd century AD, there exist
aqueducts between Pamukkale and Karahayit a rendering an attractive place for
sightseers, while thermal baths and camping grounds are also
provided for all holiday makers.
Laodicea on the Lycus
Laodicea on the Lycus (Laodikeia) was an ancient city
in Asia Minor, now Turkey, on the river Lycus (Çürüksu). It was
located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia, which later
became the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana. It is now situated
near the modern city of Denizli.
Since 2002 archaeology has been continuing by Pamukkale University
in Denizli followed by intensive restoration work.
In 2013 the archaeological site was inscribed in the Tentative List
of World Heritage Sites in Turkey.
It contained one of the Seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book
of Revelation.
It lay on a major trade route and in its
neighbourhood were many important ancient cities; it was 17 km west
of Colossae, 10 km south of Hierapolis and 160 km east of Ephesus.
It was situated in the ancient region of Phrygia, although some
ancient authors place Laodicea in differing provincial territories,
not surprising because the precise limits of these territories were
both ill-defined and inconstant; for example, Ptolemy and
Philostratus call it a town of Caria, while Stephanus of Byzantium
describes it as belonging to Lydia.
The town was originally called Diospolis, "City of
Zeus", and afterwards Rhodas. Excavations in the northern necropolis
have shown that the settlement existed before the Hellenistic
foundation and was inhabited by the native population.
Laodicea was founded on the site of the older town by Antiochus II
Theos, king of the Seleucid Empire, in 261-253 BC in honour of his
wife Laodice, together with several other cities of the same name.
Laodicea soon became quite wealthy. In 220 BC, Achaeus declared
himself king of the region but was defeated by Antiochus the Great
in 213 BC. Antiochus transported 2,000 Jewish families to Phrygia
from Babylonia. Many of Laodicea's inhabitants were Jews from this
time, and Cicero records that Flaccus later confiscated the
considerable sum of 9 kg of gold which was being sent annually to
Jerusalem for the Temple.
After the Battle of Magnesia in 188 BC when the
Romans defeated the Seleucids, the Treaty of Apamea was signed which
gave control of the whole of western Asia Minor to the Kingdom of
Pergamon. With the death of its last king, its territory was
bequested to Rome in 133 BC. It received from Rome the title of free
city. It suffered greatly during the Mithridatic Wars but quickly
recovered under the dominion of Rome. Towards the end of the Roman
Republic and under the first emperors, Laodicea benefitted from its
advantageous position on a trade route and became one of the most
important and flourishing commercial cities of Asia Minor, in which
large money transactions and an extensive trade in black wool were
carried out. Its renowned wealth is referred to in the Bible.
During the Roman period Laodicea was the chief city of a Roman
conventus, which comprised 24 cities besides itself; Cicero records
holding assizes there ca. 50 BC.
Strabo (64 BC - 24 AD) attributes the celebrity of the city to the
fertility of the soil and the wealth of some of its inhabitants,
amongst whom may have been Hiero of Laodicea, who adorned the city
with many beautiful buildings and bequeathed to it more than 2000
talents at his death.
With its large Jewish community, Laodicea very early
became a seat of Christianity and a bishopric. The Epistle to the
Colossians mentions Laodicea as one of the communities of concern
for Paul the Apostle. It sends greetings from a certain Epaphras
from Colossae, who worked hard for the Christians of the three
Phrygian cities of Colossae.
The existing remains attest to its former greatness.
Its many buildings include a stadium, baths, temples, a gymnasium,
two theatres and a bouleuterion (Senate House). On the eastern side,
the line of the ancient wall may be distinctly traced, with the
remains of the Ephesus gate; there are streets traversing the town,
flanked by colonnades and numerous pedestals. North of the town,
towards the Lycus, are many sarcophagi, with their covers lying near
them, partly embedded in the ground, and all having been long since
rifled.
The West theatre has been recently restored (2022) with virtually
complete banks of stone seats. Originally built in the Hellenistic
period, it held 8000 spectators and was used until the 7th c. AD.
About TransAnatolie
TransAnatolie
Tour (Multi-Lingual Cultural Tour Operator)
TransAnatolie Tour is a subgroup of Anadolu
and is a Multi-Lingual Cultural Tour Operator in Anatolia (Asia
Minor) Turkey.TransAnatolie Tour
has the ambition and the capacity to be become one of the leading provider and
operator of archaeological, historical, belief (biblical) and cultural
heritage tours and specialty travel with high Quality of Service (QoS)
concept.
TransAnatolie Tour develops its programs with a network of
Specialists, who are well recognized, local, regional, national, and international
professionals at the top of their fields. These Specialists share their
knowledge, insights and vision providing an in-depth insiders understanding of
what distinguishes a particular culture and what factors shaped its evolution.
TransAnatolie Tours are executed in five
languages (Dutch, English, French, German and Turkish) with high QoS concept
by Tourism Professionals of valuable experience, intelligence and high
intellectual capacity.
TransAnatolie Tour executive and operations
teams have been at the cutting edge of international tour (holiday) operations
and specialty travel since 1990s, working with organizations, universities and
museums to provide unique travel experiences, cultural and belief (biblical) tours
(holidays/trips) to their memberships.
Multi-Lingual TransAnatolie Tour team members
have many years of valuable experience in providing individuals and
organizations with high quality cultural, historical, belief/biblical,
archaeological, architectural tours and travel experiences with high quality of
service (QoS).
TransAnatolie has immersed travelers in
Anatolia's most fascinating ancient cultures and provided enriching travel
experiences.
TransAnatolie (International Multi-Lingual
Cultural Tour Operator) has also been in small boat cruises, building exciting
travel packages around these unique vessels.
TransAnatolie is now
expanding its distribution by making these high quality, unique travel
products and programs available to the public. Supported by our international
network of offices and affiliates worldwide, the aim of TransAnatolie Team of
travel professionals and passionate program specialists is to make your next
'vacation' a truly rewarding travel experience.
TransAnatolie Tour is a member of
-
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Licence
No. 4938)
-
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (Trade registry under
No. 54/1024)
-
Turkish-French Cultural Association
-
Turkish Association at the United Nations
-
Union of Turkish Tour Operators (TÜRSAB)
-
Union of Multi-Lingual Professional Tourism Guides (TUREB-ARED)
-
Ankara Cultural Tourism Association (BATUDER)
-
Nigde Cultural Association
-
Aksaray Cultural Association
-
Arts & Cultural Association of Taspinar.
TransAnatolie info-webs
(pages)
On these webs you will find background
information about our company, our offices, our current job offers and more info
about current and future products and services.
If you could not find the information you need on these pages and/or
on our other
pages, or for inquires please do not hesitate to contact us at:
info[at]transanatolie.com
-
TransAnatolie Tour
-
Multilingual Cultural Tour Provider and Operator
- A - Group
License N°4938 - The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
|
