Holiday in Trabzon

About Trabzon

Trabzon, the secret capital of the Turkish Black Sea coast, boasts a history of over 2,700 years and was once a significant trading hub on the Silk Road known as Trapezunt. The city combines Ottoman heritage, Byzantine church art, and a vibrant Black Sea culture into a fascinating destination off the usual tourist paths. The Sumela Monastery (Meryemana Manastiri) is the undisputed highlight: Built 300 meters high against a vertical rock face in the Altindere Valley, this Byzantine monastery from the 4th century looks like something out of a fantasy novel. The colorful frescoes inside, the dramatic ascent through fir forests, and the sheer audacity of the construction make Sumela one of the most extraordinary sacred buildings in the world. The Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, not to be confused with its more famous counterpart in Istanbul, houses excellently preserved Byzantine frescoes from the 13th century. The covered bazaar in the city center pulses with life, and the tea houses at Ataturk Square provide the perfect spot to observe the hustle and bustle over a glass of Turkish tea. The Black Sea cuisine surprises with specialties such as Kuymak (a hot cheese-cornmeal fondue), Hamsi (anchovies in every conceivable variation), and Trabzon-style Pide. From Trabzon, one can reach the picturesque Uzungöl highland and the alpine pastures of the Kackar Mountains — a hiking paradise with an alpine character in the midst of Turkey.