Travel photo blog

Efes, Marmaris, Pamukkale and Hierapolis [ See Turkey on the map ]

Turkey is geographically, politically and officially part of two continents - Europe and Asia. The smaller northwestern portion (Thrace) is part of Europe, while the larger portion (Anatolia) is part of Asia.

Founded in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey is home to spectacular mountains, superb beaches and antiquities of all descriptions.

This fascinating country is a very popular tourist destination and one of the most intriguing countries on the planet.

Pamukkale
Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle,” in Turkish (Hierapolis in Greek) is a beautiful natural wonder about three to four hours from Marmaris. While it sounds a hike, and it is, it is well worth it. Rising up from the surrounding plains, Pamukkale is an extraordinarily white, mineral outcropping on the cliffside. From a distance, it looks like snow, but it is actually travertine, a mineral made out of calcium carbonate, which bubbles up from the hot thermal springs located in Pamukkale. It is a must see. In addition, Pamukkale contains a Byzantine-era church, the ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo, a Roman-era necropolis with over 1,000 stone sarcophogi and remains of streets built by the Roman emperor Domitian (51-96 AD).