It's been thousands of years since the cascading travertine terraces of Pamukkale first became famed for their mineral rich healing waters. That was back when the ancient Greeks and Romans dominated these parts of Asia Minor; when the spa city of Hieropolis throbbed with traders from right across the Mediterranean. Fast forward to today and travelers still flock from all over to wonder at the shimmering, mirror-like pools that bubble up from the rugged ridges of the Inner Aegean. The whole area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and bathing between the remains of the old bathhouse buildings that were raised by the ancients on the bends of the Menderes River is still one of the top activities. The ruins of the Hieropolis house a spectacular Roman theatre and a fantastic museum in its Roman baths as well, the latter exhibiting spectacular treasures from the nearby archaeological site of Laodicea. Pamukkale tour guides typically advice a night stay at its pleasant village and hitting the formations in the morning to enjoy an uncrowded visit; this is Turkey’s single most visited attraction after all.