Trabzon

Trabzon was founded by the merchants from Sinope around 1.000 B.C. and today it is the most important city in the region.
It leans with its back against the Eastern Black Sea mountains ant it is an important port city. The city is famous for its natural and historical treasures . The famous historian Xenophon got lost and arrived in Trapezos ( meaning table or plain in old Greek ) with the remainder of his 10.000 soldiers. He marks that the local people were really happy to see them there.

The city has strategic importance since it is located at the beginning of the road that connects Black Sea Coast to Iran and is right next to the famous Zigana pass. The city was of strategic importance and considered a rich prize by many.
Luluctuc conquered the city during the Roman times, but the city managed to retain its "independent" status. Ruled by the Goths for a short time, it then became an important citadel for the Byzantines. Justinianus the Great rebuilt the city walls. The Seljuks tried to take over the city several times but were never successful. When Istanbul was invaded by the Latins during the 4th Crusade, the Byzantine dynasty moved to Iznik. ( 13th. Century )
The two sons of the emperor came to Trabzon and Alexios Commenos become the Emperor here. In 1461, the city was captured by the Ottomans and remained under their rule until the Empire ended.

The St. Sophia church is the most important historical building in Trabzon. Today it is a center of commerce and tourism. The firs church built by the Commenos family in the 13th century was expanded later by emperor Manuel Paleologos VIII in the same century. It was converted into a museum in 1957. Some frescoes are still noticeable inside even though quite blurry.
There are several other important Byzantine churches that were converted to mosques in time. They are worth seeing for their interesting architecture. Phanagia Chrysocephalos Church (Fatih Mosque), Saint Eugene Church (Yeni Cuma Cami), Saint Anne and Saint Basil churches are some of those.

Sumela Monastery is the place that no tourist should miss!.. Dating back from 6th. Century Sumela Monastery was called 'Panaghia tou Melas,' by the Byzantine Greeks.
It meant 'Virgin of the Black Rock' . Later on the Pontus Greeks called it Soumelas and that evolved into Sumela. It was a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in Byzantine times. Greeks came to Trabzon from Sinop as early as the 6th century B.C. Later, the area became part of the Greek Pontus Empire.

The monastery is 45 minutes away from Trabzon city. It is built upon a mountain and as one approaches the edifice now one can not hide the awesome feeling one feels. You climb up to the edifice by this turning road. On foot. With every turn the edifice gives you a different angle and the awesome feeling grows within. Once upon a time they were able to build this amazing structure on the face of this mount hill. Wow!.. The impression you get is similar to the one that William of Baskerville has got in the film " The name of the rose ".
Once you arrive at the top, Sumela is still there to surprise you: Frescos, paintings made on wet plaster still cover the facade and interior of the 'Cave Church,' bright and somewhat intact after hundreds of years. The more recent frescoes were painted in the 1700s. The stories narrated are not too different from those of the churches in Istanbul such as Chora or similar. . The facade for instance shows the story of Adam and Eve and a picture of St. George and the Dragon. You must definetely see Sumela if visiting Trabzon.