Trabizond, the city that Marco Polo fell in love with, it is a beautiful Turkish city that rests on the shores of the Black Sea.
It is a city with centuries of history, and for that reason it keeps cultural treasures that still amaze its visitors today. Let's get to know Trabzon.
Trebizond
As we said, it is a city that It is on the shores of the Black Sea and it is the capital of one of the provinces that make up Türkiye. It is between the sea and at the foot of the Pontic Alps.
The city It was founded in the 8th century BC by Greek merchants from Miletus, but the richest period was under Roman rule, and from then on it had swings of prosperity and decline, until it was the turn of the Byzantine Empire. It was in the 9th century that it became shopping center with Oriente.
This privileged situation was overshadowed centuries later when the Suez Canal was built, more precisely in the mid-19th century, and the railway tracks were laid between Tehran and Tbilisi.
What to see in Trabzon
It is the second largest city in the Turkish Black Sea region, and It is often called "the bride of the Black Sea". Today it is a tourist center known for being the birthplace of Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Due to its cultural mix throughout history, the truth is that it holds many cultural and natural attractions for us.
Let's get started: we can go to take a boat ride on Lake Karagol. This beautiful water mirror is tucked into Mount Anamas and is one of the most impressive and serene lakes in the world. It is about 2625 meters high and is surrounded by mountain peaks and a beautiful landscape of flora and fauna.
Tourists can rent a rowing boat and take walks around this charming lake of volcanic origin or even come to see the Artvin Muratli Dam which is very close.
The Turks are famous for their bazaars and there is no shortage of one here: it is the Bedesten Bazaar, located in the center of the city, with a roof, and with an old feel. Here you can stroll and buy a little of everything, from crafts and rugs to ornate Turkish-style clothing and decorative objects.
It must be said that the structure of the bazaar is also striking, since remember a temple or a church, with arched doors, stone-floored hallways and walls, all with a typical style of the 16th century. And obviously, there are no purchases without haggling here. The bazaar open from 10 am to 11 pm.
Another of the historical sites of Trabizond is the Trabzon Castle, a fortress that is part of the ancient walls that surround the old part of the city and that reaches the very coast of the Black Sea from a peak overlooking the urban center.
The castle is very important since It was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 5th century. to be a fortress and residence of emperors and local rulers for centuries.
Castle It is divided into three parts or sections: the highest section, the central one and the lower one, always with Ottoman characteristics. Visitors can walk around its surroundings to appreciate it from the outside and then they can Climb the towers to enjoy the impressive panoramic views that their heights offer.
The castle is conveniently located near other Trabzon attractions such as the Hagia Sofia Museum, Ataturk Mansion and Trabzon Museum.
El Trabzon Museum It is the best place to learn about the history of the city and see objects and even traditional clothing from the Ottoman era: there are ceramics, jewelry, tools and coins, for example, also Byzantine art with mosaics, frescoes and religious icons or objects that reflect the daily life and customs of the local population over time.
With respect to the Atartuk Mansion is former summer residence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Türkiye. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and you can learn more about the life and work of this politician since today the house it's a museum.
President Ataturk was in office from 1921 to 1932, at the dawn of the modern republic. The house was the site of important historical events during the Turkish War of Independence and where the country's main reforms were planned.
It stopped being an official residence when the so-called Pink Mansion was built next to it, and In 1950 it became a museum. It has two floors, is made of wood and has a garden. All the furniture inside is original and they belonged to Atatürk and, even, you will see his medals, books and clothes. You can learn all that and more if you visit this museum located on Cancaya Street, on the campus of the same name.
Not far from Trabzon is the impressive Sumela Monastery. Belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and it is truly a treasure Built on the cliffs of Mount Mela, with spectacular views of the surrounding area.
The monastery has a long and rich history that dates back to the 4th century and it is a beautiful building of Byzantine architecture of great religious importance. Inside you can see frescoes, its chapels and the rooms that have been excavated in the rock itself.
To reach Sumela Monastery you should climb a little and walk through the Altindere National Park, a super green terrain with waterfalls. The trail is beautiful, not a second is wasted.
The truth is that there are many places from where you can enjoy many spectacular views of Trabzon, as you may have read, but here I add another one: the Boztepe Hill.
Boztepe Hill It is a very touristy place but no less beautiful for that. It is a short drive from Trabzon, heading southeast. It is also a religious destination, clerics came here centuries ago and It is home to the San Juan Spring.
The views from the hill are great, both of the city and the beautiful surrounding nature. You can go to the top using the cableway and from the heights enjoy fabulous views of the Black Sea port, the city and the mountains.
Are you a traveler who enjoys adventure, exciting activities? Well Trabzon also offers something for you: you can paraglide in Uzungul or Uzungöl or go camping.
The city of Uzungol, with its lake, is nearby and it is a very beautiful and picturesque place. In fact, the entire area has lakes and captivating nature, dense forests, green hills, mountains with snow-capped peaks...
This other lake is about 20 kilometers from Trabzon, in the neighboring county of Caykara, and at 1100 meters above sea level. You can go hiking, enjoy a typical Turkish meal in one of the cafes and restaurants on its shore, rent a bike, go hiking or, as we said, paragliding. And even do mini helicopter flights or stay camping!
If you are a ski lover and you go in winter you can always do your thing in the Hamsikoy ski slopes. It is one of the most important ski resorts in northern Turkey and was originally on the Silk Road. The village is beautiful, on the slopes of Mount Zigana, and is part of the Macka district, within Trabzon.
Beyond its ski slopes you can visit it at any time of the year to enjoy its beauties, waterfalls, hot springs and green landscapes.
Finally, if you like to go into caves you can visit the Cal cave system, one of the natural wonders of Trabzon. Its about second largest known cave system in the world and has eight kilometers deep. It is impressive, with its stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, stream and ponds.
This 47 kilometers from the center of Trabzon and first opened to tourism in 2013. Going down is a phenomenal experience that only gets better as you go deeper and deeper, with sounds of water falling and running, and that light smell of salt.
And if you like horses then you can travel just 15 minutes from Trabzon, to Akcaat, a beautiful city and natural port of the Dead Sea. It's great for Outdoor Activities and in its green pastures you can go horseback riding or jeep rides.
You already know, Türkiye is much more than Cappadocia or Istanbul. It's Trabizond.