TRABZON

On the route of the historical and exotic Silk Road, Trabzon is one of the pearls of the Black Sea region of Turkey. Situated on the Northeast coast, this large city has been home to numerous civilizations throughout history.

The social and cultural heritage lures visitors from all over the world and historically it has received its fair share of famous travellers including Mark Twain and the Ottoman Evliya Celebi. Many Turks have nicknamed it the city of sultans, mainly because the notable sultan Suleiman the magnificent was born there.

Without a doubt, the main attraction is the historical Sumela Monastery clinging to the side of a cliff face. It is said the reason for its location was a statue of the black Madonna was found in a cave by two priests and they assumed it was a sign from the angels. Although it is no longer in use, the frescoes adorning the ceiling are marvellously well preserved. The monastery can be reached within a half hour drive from Trabzon city centre.

Gulbahar mosque is a monumental landmark for the city. Built in 1510, it displays innovative Ottoman architecture from that time. In the courtyard of the mosque is a tomb belonging to Gulbahar Hatan, mother of Yavuz, the Ottoman sultan.

Also known as Ataturk pavilion, the house of Ataturk is an important symbol of the formation of the Turkish republic. It belonged to a rich, Ottoman banker until the population exchange of 1923, when it fell into the possession of the government. . The house was then given to Ataturk as a gift when he died. It contains much of the original furniture and a historical map used during the Turkish war of independence.

Not to be confused with its larger counterpart in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia means sacred wisdom in Christianity. Formerly a church and mosque, it is now a museum with an impressive clock tower next door and both landmarks are impressive examples of late Byzantine architecture and frescoes.

Although sold on a day trip from Trabzon, it is worth staying overnight in the nearby, picturesque Uzungol. This small community situated in a valley is surrounded by lush green forests and locals have made good use of resources at hand. Wood is used to build the houses and hotels. Due to the altitude of the lake, summer weather is not as humid as other places in Turkey and it is often that winter will bring deep snowfalls. Further up the plateau is Demirkapi that for anyone coming from large cities, would be considered remote. The houses of this rolling green landscape are called yaylis and this is translated to mean summerhouses, which locals use to escape the heat.

Further Reading