Aziziye: Thermal Baths and Recreation Area

Aziziye offers two distinct highlights for planning a trip: the thermal facilities in Ilıca and the Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Recreation Area. The recreation area is next to the Ilıca Thermal Facilities. This means that bathing facilities and a landscaped green space are close to each other, while remaining distinct attractions.

Thermal Water and Bathing Facilities

The Ilıca Thermal Facilities have three separate swimming pools: one for men, one for women, and one for groups. The facilities also include a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a Finnish bath. When getting your bearings among the bathing options, both the allocation of the pools and the other types of bathing are relevant.

The spring water at the Aziziye thermal facilities has a temperature of 39°C. The spring water at the Ilıca thermal facilities contains sodium and bicarbonate. Temperature and composition describe two different properties of the water: the number refers to the spring water temperature, while sodium and bicarbonate refer to its composition.

History and Therapeutic Facilities

During the rule of the Saltukids, the thermal springs of Ilıca were used as baths. This historical use adds a distinct historical dimension to the pools and bathing facilities.

A physiotherapy and rehabilitation center has been established within the Ilıca Thermal Facilities. Under a protocol with Atatürk University, patients receiving treatment in the university’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation can use the municipality’s physiotherapy and thermal facilities. The program is designed to use thermal treatments as supportive care for rheumatic, musculoskeletal, orthopedic, and neurological conditions.

The Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Recreation Area

The completed Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Recreation Area is in Ilıca Mahallesi, right next to the Ilıca Thermal Facilities, and covers 25,000 m². Numerous trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants give the area the character of a botanical garden. The grounds also include walking paths, pergolas, and benches; an illuminated ornamental pool completes the design.

Two large children’s play areas and 52 covered, glass-enclosed gazebos are among its other features. The 25,000 m² figure refers to the total area of the recreation grounds; the paths, plantings, and other facilities are all part of the site.

Protected Buildings Nearby

Buildings formerly used as a village institute are located near the destination. The relevant cultural and natural heritage preservation board has listed them as worthy of preservation and placed them under protection; they are about 2 km from the district center. Their former function offers a different historical perspective on the area than the use of the thermal springs as baths during Saltukid rule: here, the focus is on protected buildings, while there it is on the former use of spring water. Their former use and protected status answer different questions: the village institute points to their historical function, while their listing and protected status describe the buildings’ heritage protection.

For the broader travel overview: Erzurum.