Welcome to Cardak Denizli Airport. We drive up to the white terraces at Pamukkale. Pamukkale is in Aegean Turkey, also called the “Cotton Castle,” because of the white cotton appearance of the mineral bath spas that abound the province, which is rich in calcium. Known as a “spa town” since the Roman era, tourists travel to Pamukkale to relax in warm, soothing, and therapeutic waters in the various spas. Hierapolis, or “Holy City,” was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras.

Also, the Apostle Philip lived and was buried here. What makes Hierapolis different from most places on Earth is that it is built on land, neither on water, but on limestone deposits above the mineral springs in the area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the ruins littered throughout the city, including the graveyard that houses the sarcophagi of important ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius.

After the lunch break, you visit Laodicea, one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The seventh one is the Laodicea Church. For institutional archaeology, it is critical to detect, restore and protect the church, which dates back to the period of Constantine. Its many buildings include a stadium, baths, temples, a gymnasium, 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 city, towards the Lycus, are many coffins, with their covers lying near them, partly embedded in the ground, and all having been long since rifled. At the end of the tour, we drive to Pamukkale and stay overnight.