Sarıkaya: Basilica Therma and Thermal History

Sarıkaya’s history can best be understood through Basilica Therma, the Sarıkaya Roman Bath. The complex is located in the town center on the Bozok Plateau in north-central Anatolia. If you are planning a stay, the bath provides a clear thematic focus: thermal waters, Roman architecture, and later religious use are all part of the town’s history. Distances to airports and regional destinations are also useful when planning your trip.

A Roman bath with several historic names

The construction of the Ancient Roman Bath of Sarıkaya is estimated to date to the 2nd century AD. In Roman times, the Sarıkaya Antik Roma Hamamı was known as “Aquae Sarvenae,” in Byzantine times as “Basilica Therma,” and in Ottoman times as “Terzili Hamamı.” The different names reflect the site’s long history, while the date of its construction remains an estimate.

Its later use is also part of this history: during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, water from the thermal spring was used as a therapeutic bath without damaging the main building of the Roman bath. After paganism was banned under Emperor Theodosius, a marble baptismal font bearing a cross was installed in the large thermal pool. Because of this function, Christians regarded the site as sacred. The thermal spring is considered to have healing properties and continues to supply thermal water.

The Roman bath and its surroundings were designated a first-degree archaeological site in 2018. On May 2, 2018, Basilica Therma was also submitted for UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List. This refers to a submission for the Tentative List, not inclusion on the World Heritage List. The building also features both bull-head and snake motifs.

The pool complex in figures

Basilica Therma’s large thermal pool measures 23.30 by 12.80 meters and is 1.34 meters deep. Its water temperature is about 45 degrees Celsius. At the center is an almost oval, two-part baptismal font with a cross relief. It measures 120 by 140 centimeters and is 25 centimeters thick. In this way, the dimensions of a large pool and a carefully described stone detail can be seen side by side within the same complex.

A third pool lies at right angles to the inner pool. Its thermal water emerges from the bottom; the pool measures 15.00 by 5.20 meters and has a semicircular plan at its short ends. Further excavations added to the sequence of pools: after the forepool was discovered, excavations behind the main building uncovered a second and a third pool. The description therefore covers both the dimensions of individual pools and their arrangement, as well as the history of their discovery.

Other historic sites nearby

Nearby, in Terzili, Karayakup, stands the historic Adem Ağa Konağı. The single-story building was constructed in 1926 using timber framing with mud infill and has been preserved to this day. The Terzili Ermeni Şapeli also remains in Terzili, Karayakup. Armenian residents visit the chapel every year and use it for religious services. These sites add further regional architectural and religious history to Sarıkaya’s Roman and Seljuk-Ottoman past.

Getting there and understanding the distances

The Sarıkaya thermal baths are located in the town center and can be reached by road. The distances to Nevşehir Kapadokya, Kayseri, and Sivas Nuri Demirağ airports are given as approximately 150, 120, and 190 kilometers, respectively. Of these three distances, Kayseri is the shortest, followed by Nevşehir Kapadokya and Sivas Nuri Demirağ.

Other distance figures from Sarıkaya include 75 kilometers to Yozgat, 300 kilometers to Ankara, 120 kilometers to Kayseri, 124 kilometers to Cappadocia, and 110 kilometers to Hattuşa. These figures provide a starting point for placing Sarıkaya in a travel itinerary with regional destinations; the route you choose determines the actual journey. When planning, you can decide whether to focus on the Roman bath and the town’s history or to visit Sarıkaya as part of a trip that includes other destinations.

Discover more destinations: Güllük, Özükavak, Fakıbeyli, Sorgun, Boğazlıyan, Yozgat, Alışar Höyük

Go to the main travel overview: Yozgat.