Newsletters
The Basilica Therma Roman Bath in Yozgat’s Sarikaya district, widely known as “Kral Kizi,” has begun welcoming more visitors as warmer weather sets in, offering a more comfortable experience after landscaping work around the historic site.
The Roman-era bath, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List in 2018, draws attention with its monumental architecture and thermal water that has continued to flow at around 50 degrees Celsius for nearly 2,000 years.
Known locally as “Kral Kizi,” meaning “King’s Daughter,” the bath is linked to a local belief that the daughter of a king living in Kayseri during the Roman Empire recovered from an incurable illness after using its thermal waters.
This association has helped shape the site’s identity among local visitors, while its preserved Roman architecture and active hot spring continue to stand out as the main features attracting tourists to the district.
Landscaping and environmental arrangement work carried out under the supervision of the Yozgat Museum Directorate began in 2022 and was completed in August 2024.
Following the work, the site was reopened with improved access and a more comfortable route for visitors.
The bath, which received around 50,000 tourists last year, has seen growing interest again with the arrival of warmer weather. The site was also recently filmed by an FPV drone, showing the historic structure and its surrounding area from the air.
Celal Diril, who visited the bath with his family from Istanbul, said the Roman Bath was a place everyone should see, adding: “Its water is healing; there is no need to explain.”
Diril also said the atmosphere had changed significantly since his childhood visits, noting that the site had now become much more impressive.
He said he had recently visited Mount Nemrut and felt a similarly striking atmosphere at the Roman Bath.
Another visitor, Cemil Diril, said they came to see the historic structure and benefit from the thermal water, while Hamza Celik, who spent the weekend at the site with his family, said the visit helped him better understand the value and beauty of the land.
Aytekin Yucer, a resident of Sarikaya, said the landscaping work had made the monument more visible and helped bring in more tourists. He added that people now visit, rest and drink tea “inside history,” describing the bath as an important value for Sarikaya.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
