The ancient city of Tripolis is located in the Denizli province, about 20 km north-west of Hierapolis (Pamukkale). The city was founded on the northern bank of the Maeander where the borders of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia meet and on the road leading from Sardes to Laodicea ad Lycum. It was originally known as Apollonia and was later renamed Antoniopolis (in honour of Mark Antony) for a short period of time in the 1st century BC. The city took its final name some time later when it became know as Tripolis due to its location at the crossroads of these three regions.

Coordinates: 38°02’14.5″ N 28°57’08.2″ E

The earliest mention of Tripolis is by Pliny the Elder who wrote about the city as a Lydian settlement. In the 2nd century AD Claudius Ptolemy described it as a Carian town whilst the Byzantine geographer Hierocles called it a Lydian town. Although the city’s history goes back to the Hellenistic period, archaeological excavations have shown that the origins of the settlement can be traced back to the 4th millennium BC. Tripolis reached its peak during the Roman period, from the 2nd century AD onwards. During this period new public buildings such as the city gates, baths, a stadium, a theatre and a bouleuterion (council hall) were built. During the Byzantine period Tripolis became an important bishopric center. A church dating back to the 6th century AD was unearthed during excavations in 2013.