Denizli Attractions

The provincial capital of Denizli is situated about 20km/12mi south of Pamukkale above the fertile Çürüksu valley (Aksu Deresi, Lykos in antiquity, Maeander Minor in the Middle Ages) and lies at the foot of the block-shaped Honaz Dag (Kadmos 2,571m/8,432ft). The town probably grew up in the early 14th century in what is now the bazaar district as a replacement for Laodikeia and it was known originally as Ladik or Lazik, but later assumed the name of the abundant Denizli spring ("denizli", with the sea). Ibn Battuta described the town as a fine commercial center with seven mosques, baths and bazaars as well as a resident prince. Denizli has twice been destroyed by earthquakes - once at the beginning of the 18th century and again in 1899. There are no buildings of any historical interest in this thoroughly modern town.