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