Laodicea on the Lycus

Laodicea (Laodikeia in Turkish) spreads over a broad plateau on the northern edge of Denizli, on the road towards Pamukkale. Decades of excavation and restoration have brought its streets, squares and theatres back into view, and the site is well signposted, although it covers a large area.

The backbone of any visit is Syria Street, the colonnaded avenue that crosses the city. Walking along it you pass re-erected columns, fountains and rows of shops. Near the centre are Temple A and the large Church of Laodicea under its protective roof; Laodicea is one of the Seven Churches named in the Book of Revelation. On the western and northern edges of the city are the West and North theatres with their long rows of seats, and the stadium and baths lie to the south. Allow two to three hours.

Distances are long and shade is scarce, so in summer come early or towards sunset with plenty of water and a hat. The ground is mostly level, but polished paving stones can be slippery. A taxi from Denizli takes little time, and it is easy to add the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis on the same day, since they are close by. Check the hours on the museum page.