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Denizli
Metropolitan municipality
Ceramic statue of Denizli's Rooster, symbol of the city
Denizli Location of Denizli
Coordinates: 37°46′N 29°05′E / 37.767°N 29.083°E / 37.767; 29.083Coordinates: 37°46′N 29°05′E / 37.767°N 29.083°E / 37.767; 29.083
Country	Turkey
Region	Aegean Region
Province	Denizli
Government
• Mayor	Osman Zolan (AKP)
Area [1]
• District	798.75 km2 (308.40 sq mi)
Elevation	324 m (1,063 ft)
Population (2012)[2]
• Total	557,300
• District	554,424
• District density	690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	20x xx
Area code(s)	(0090) 258
Licence plate	20
Website	[3]

Denizli is an industrial city in the southwestern part of Turkey and the eastern end of the alluvial valley formed by the river Büyük Menderes, where the plain reaches an elevation of about three hundred and fifty metres (1,148 ft). Denizli is located in the country's Aegean Region.

The city has a population of about 577,000 (2013 census). This is a jump from 389,000 in 2007, due to the merger of 13 municipalities and 10 villages when the area under Denizli Municipality jurisdiction increased almost fivefold and the population around 50 percent. Denizli (Municipality) is the capital city of Denizli Province.

Denizli has seen economic development in the last few decades, mostly due to textile production and exports.^[4][5]

Denizli also attracts visitors to the nearby mineral-coated hillside hot spring of Pamukkale, and with red color thermal water spa hotels Karahayıt, just 5 kilometres (3 miles) north of Pamukkale. Recently, Denizli became a major domestic tourism destination due to the various types of thermal waters in Sarayköy, Central/Denizli (where Karahayıt and Pamukkale towns are located), Akköy (Gölemezli), Buldan (Yenicekent), and Çardak districts.

The ancient ruined city of Hierapolis, as well as ruins of the city of Laodicea on the Lycus, the ancient metropolis of Phrygia. Also in the depending of Honaz, about 10 mi (16 km) west of Denizli is, what was, in the 1st century AD, the city of Colossae.

The weather is hot in Denizli in summers, whereas in winters, it may occasionally be very cold with snow on the mountains that surround the city. Some years, snow can be observed in the urban areas. Springs and autumns are rainy, mild climate, warm.

History

In antiquity, it was an important Greek town, called Attouda (Αττούδα), that existed through the ancient Greek and Roman towns neaeras; it was near the cities (Hierapolis and Laodicea on the Lycus) and flourished through the Byzantine period.

The city was conquered by the Turks. The inhabitants of Laodicea were also resettled here in the Seljuk period.^[6]

Ibn Battuta visited the city, noting that "In it there are seven mosques for the observance of Friday prayers, and it has splendid gardens, perennial streams, and gushing springs. Most of the artisans there are Greek women, for in it are many Greeks who are subject to the Muslims and who pay dues to the sultan, including the jizyah, and other taxes."^[7]

In the 17th century, the Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi visited Denizli and recorded the town as follows: "The city is called by Turks as (Denizli) (which means has abundant of water sources like sea in Turkish) as there are several rivers and lakes around it. In fact it is a four-day trip from the sea. Its fortress is of square shape built on flat ground. It has no ditches. Its periphery is 470 steps long. It has four gates. These are: painters gate in North, saddle-makers gate in the East, new Mosque gate in the South, and vineyard gate in the West. There are some fifty armed watchmen in the fortress, and they attend the shop. The main city is outside the fortress with 44 districts and 3600 houses. There are 57 small and large mosques and district masjids, 7 madrasahs, 7 children's schools, 6 baths and 17 dervish lodges. As everybody lives in vineyards the upper classes and ordinary people do not flee from each other."^{[citation needed]}

The city lived in peace for centuries without being involved in wars in a direct manner. Following World War I during the Independence War, the Greek forces managed to come as close as Sarayköy, a small town 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Denizli, but did not venture into Denizli. The most widespread symbols of Denizli province are of textile industry.^{[citation needed]}

Administration

List of districts and 2016 census.
^[8]

Climate

Denizli is located in Aegean region of Turkey, where the climate is not uniform. The inland areas, like Çardak, Bozkurt, Çivril, and Çal districts/counties of the province are cooler and have a higher elevation than the seaside, western part of the Province. Therefore, there are climatic differences within the province and even in the Denizli urbanized area. The land is open to winds coming from the Aegean Sea because the mountains are perpendicular to the sea. Winters are rainy or sometimes snowy, but generally mild.^[9]

Denizli today

An old house/restaurant in Denizli

Aside from its visitor's attractions, the city of Denizli is known for its textile industry, outlet shopping for clothing, and for connected fields of activity such as the dye industry.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

During World War I, Denizli mined chromium.^[12]

The textile industry in Denizli grew rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, both as a domestic market and for exports. Towels, bathrobes, and other home textiles are products associated with Denizli. The biggest firms in the city include Değirmenci and Funika (especially for bathrobes).^{[citation needed]}

Denizli, Turkey

Lifestyle

Denizli is a town with tree-lined main avenues and views of the surrounding mountains from many locations. As the city grew in the 1990s, new compounds of villas have sprung up on the city's outskirts in areas like Çamlık.

In the city itself, air pollution from coal-fired central-heating become a problem in winter. However, with the expanding usage of natural gas, air pollution problem has declined in the elevated parts of the city.

Pamukkale University opened in the 1990s, and now has more than 28,000 students. Many young people still leave to go to university in İzmir, Ankara, or Istanbul.

Culture and entertainment

There are large shops, bars and cafes, and live music, although this is a city that grew recently and is located deep in the countryside. The presence of Pamukkale University improves the cultural amenities of the city.

The region's inhabitants have been influenced by the production of grapes and the wine throughout history. The new wealth in Denizli has been much more rapid than many other places in Turkey in investing in developing an urban culture. Many private clubs and associations are opening up including: The Society for the Protection of the Environment and History of Denizli; The Poets and Poetry Lovers Association; the Pizza Appreciation Group; and the Jazz-rock Local. There is an annual amateur theater festival, attended by groups from Turkey and overseas. Denizli has the second-largest number of ranking chess-players in Turkey, after Istanbul. Also, inspired by the unusually high reports of UFO sightings in the region over the years, one of the world's handful of museums dedicated to ufology was recently opened in Denizli.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Elementary School

Transportation

Denizli Çardak Airport is about 45 minutes drive from the city center.

The extension of İzmir-Aydın highway to Denizli has been announced for several years. Initial infrastructure was laid in Aydın, but the rest is still forthcoming. The present Aydın-Denizli road, has a very high level of traffic, especially trucks, with each town along the road possessing its own industrial zone.

Places of interest

• 
  Laodicea ad Lycum - 6 km (4 mi) north of Denizli near the village of Eskihisar. The city was established by Seleucid King, Antiochus II in honor of his wife, Laodice. This trading city was famous for its woolen and cotton cloths. A letter written by a Laodecian says: "I am happy. I have fortune and I am not in need of anything." Following a large earthquake which destroyed the city, what remains of the ancient city are one of the seven churches of Asia Minor, the stadium, the amphitheatre and the odeon, the cistern and the aqueduct. (see further Laodicean Church)
  


• 
  Hierapolis and Pamukkale World Heritage Sites -20 km (12 mi) north of Denizli Pamukkale traventines. The city of Hierapolis was founded by the Pergamon King Eumenes II in 190 BC. Its closeness to Laodicea led to commercial and military rivalry. The town was built in Greek style. Despite suffering a violent earthquake in 17 AD, it reached its peak during the Roman and Byzantine periods. It was reconstructed during the 2nd and 3rd centuries in stone from quarries in the area, in a Roman style. The town had its most glorious years during the reign of Roman Emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla and became an episcopal seat during the expansion of Christianity. However, as a result of several earthquakes, the most violent of which was in 1354, a great part of the town was destroyed, and its people migrated.


• The Seljuq caravanserai Akhan, which is 6 km (4 mi) from Denizli City on the Ankara highway, and a great part of which still remains, was constructed by Karasungur bin Abdullah in 1253-54 when he was acting as the commander of Ladik. It was recently restored along with the Ottoman konaks nearby and is set to become a visitor's attraction by its own right.


• 
  Honaz mountain is a popular picnic excursion for Denizli's people in summer.


• The nearby village of Goncalı, which is on the railway line, is another excursion. People come to eat the charcoal-grilled thinly-cut kebab called çöp şiş, preferably with the local süzme yoghurt and a glass of rakı.


• There is a statue of Atatürk at Çınar Meydanı in the city centre.


• 
  Servergazi türbesi is located close to the Yenişehir neighborhood. The tomb of the 12th century Turkish commander of the Seljuk akıncı unit is located there. Many locals enjoy visiting and making prayers at the tomb especially on weekends.


• 
  Teraspark Shopping and Lifestyle Center, Teraspark AVM, located in Yenişehir. Teraspark AVM is the biggest shopping center in Denizli.


• 
  Forum Çamlık Shopping and Lifestyle Center, Forum Çamlık AVM, located in the heart of the city centre, Demokrasi Meydanı/Square and surrounded by residential areas, welcomes more than 450,000 people within a catchment area of 20 minutes. The design of Forum Çamlık was inspired by the rich architectural elements that are unique to Province of Denizli. Local stones like Denizli travertine and marble are used for the cladding of many buildings. The visitors will enjoy a detailed artwork, small ponds, squares and rich landscaping features. Given its wide range of shop mix and entertainment facilities, including theaters/cinemas, the centre became a very important destination for visitors in Denizli and neighbouring cities.

Notable people

Ancient sites of Denizli

• Laodikeia


• Hierapolis


• Trapezopolis

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Denizli is twinned with:

See also

• Merkezefendi

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Denizli.

• 
  Denizli travel guide from Wikivoyage

v t e Largest cities or towns in Turkey TÜİK's address-based calculation from December, 2017.[1]
	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.
Istanbul Ankara	1	Istanbul	Istanbul	14,744,519	11	Mersin	Mersin	1,005,455	İzmir Bursa
	2	Ankara	Ankara	4,871,884	12	Urfa	Şanlıurfa	921,978
	3	İzmir	İzmir	2,938,546	13	Eskişehir	Eskişehir	752,630
	4	Bursa	Bursa	2,074,799	14	Denizli	Denizli	638,989
	5	Adana	Adana	1,753,337	15	Kahramanmaraş	Kahramanmaraş	632,487
	6	Gaziantep	Gaziantep	1,663,273	16	Samsun	Samsun	625,410
	7	Antalya	Antalya	1,311,471	17	Malatya	Malatya	618,831
	8	Konya	Konya	1,130,222	18	İzmit	Kocaeli	570,077
	9	Kayseri	Kayseri	1,123,611	19	Adapazarı	Sakarya	492,027
	10	Diyarbakır	Diyarbakır	1,047,286	20	Erzurum	Erzurum	422,389