Ancient city’s covered market opens to tourists in Turkey's Denizli

DENİZLİ - Anadolu Agency

The market, which was built 2,000 years ago, covers an area of 500 square meters. DHA photos

Already the home of the famous sites of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, the Aegean province of Denizli is set to attract even more tourists after cultural officials opened a covered bazaar in the ancient city of Tripoli to visitors.

The site is rare as few other ancient cities have covered bazaars, said Bahadır Duman, an academic at Pamukkale University’s Archaeology Department and the head of the excavation team at the ancient city, adding that Tripoli was accordingly very valuable for historians.

Tripoli was one of the three most important cities in the 2nd century B.C., along with Hierapolis and Laodicea, for trade, textiles and agriculture, Duman said, while noting that the site was frequently destroyed by earthquakes.

The excavations started in April 2012, he said, adding that they dug seven meters deep. The market, which was build 2,000 years ago, spread over an area of 500 square meters, he said.

Denizli Gov. Abdülkadir Demir, meanwhile, said 2013 was the year of ancient cities in Denizli, adding that excavation works had started in Laodicea and continued with Hierapolis. The governor also promised more excavations to unearth the architectural treasures of Tripoli. “The values of the city will be excavated and revealed,” he said.

The market was protected from the elements because it had been buried underground, officials said, noting that it would be completely unearthed in 2014.

“We found strong structures 3.5 to four meters deep, and one of them was the covered bazaar,” the academic said.

“Most parts of the covered bazaar area still remain strong. There are similar structures in the area but they are damaged,” Duman said.

“There are also other public buildings and examples of civilian architecture, as well as open bazaar areas, baths, a theater and a very big stadium,” Duman said.