Information about Trabzon, Turkey
The city of Trabzon is the largest port along the Black Sea Coast of Turkey. In the surrounding region citrus fruit, corn, and potatoes are grown, and deposits of iron, lead, and copper are to be found. Trabzon is famous for its "Hamsi" or small sardine fish, they harvest from the Black Sea, and they have a variety of meals made with this tasty fish. 

You may reach Trabzon by air from Ankara and Istanbul. The Trabzon airport is 8 km east of the city center. There is a shuttle service into town. Trabzon may also be reached by long distance coach in about 18 hours from Istanbul. There are buses to Georgia from Trabzon and a weekly car-ferry with Turkish Maritime Lines from Istanbul (the journey takes more than 40 hours). The ferry stops in other Black Sea ports, such as Rize and Samsun. 

Greeks from the Black Sea port city of Sinop founded Trapezus on the site of Trabzon in the 8th century BC. Made part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD, it was subsequently incorporated into the Byzantine Empire. 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, the city than became an important citadel for the Byzantines. Justinian the Great rebuilt the city walls. The city attained wide renown as an artistic, cultural, and commercial center during the Middle Ages, when it was the capital of the Trebizond Empire, established in 1204 by two grandsons of Byzantine emperor Andronicus I of the family Comnenus. The Seljuks tried to take over the city several times but were never successful. When the Latins invaded Istanbul during the 4th Crusade, the Byzantine dynasty moved to Iznik. The two sons of the emperor came to Trabzon and Alexios Comnenus became the emperor here. In 1461, the city entered under Ottoman rule.

Trabzon has many architectural landmarks from Byzantine times, including the Church of the Virgin of the Golden Head and the Church of Saint Eugenius-both now mosques-and the 13th-century Haghia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom), now used as a museum. Near Trabzon is the 14th-century monastery of Sumela. 

The St. Sophia church is the most important historical building in Trabzon The first church was built by the Comnenus family in the 13th century and later enlarged by emperor Manuel Paleologos VIII in the same century. The church was converted into a museum in 1957. Some faint frescoes are still noticeable inside.

In Altindere National Park. 47 km southeast of Macka is the 14th century Sumela Monastery of the Virgin Mary, which is perched on the rock face 270 m above the valley. Within the ruins of the monastery are the remains of magnificent frescoes. It is a place of exceptional natural beauty. It was initially constructed on the steep surface of rock, as a small church in the 4th century, but later added to in the 11th century to become a considerable monastery with 72 cells for the monks. This was the most important of many monasteries built in the area during the Byzantine era and is the best preserved. After the monastery was abandoned during the Republic Era, treasures including the famous icon thought to have been painted by St Luke, were rediscovered. Recent restorations have enhanced the quality of the different chapels, some of which contain frescoes dating back to the 9th century. 

Other natural beauties of the area are the pretty mountain village of Hamsikoy or Gurgenagac, Kirazli and Solma, which are excellent meadow areas with magnificent landscapes and pure clean air, for outdoor activities. Camburnu is a beach and picnic area with pine groves on the Trabzon-Rize highway. Sera Lake is also interesting; this lake was formed from a crater, the result of a landslide in 1950, and lies near Akcaabat, 2km from the sea and 8km west of the Trabzon. It is a good picnic area and there are also restaurants nearby. In the winter visit the Zigana Ski-Center to feel the real joy of skiing.

Boztepe (Grey Peak), southeast of the city center dominates the surroundings and has always been highly respected through the ages. The hill has fine views of the surrounding city and the sea, and is a popular place for picnics in the summer. There are the remains of a ruined convent and monastery. The Convent of Panayia Theoskepastos dates back the 14th century and was used as a Greek Orthodox church until 1923. Kaymakli, around 4km south, is a former Armenian monastery and contains well-preserved frescoes dating back to the 17th century, with the courtyard now used by the adjacent farm. There are some minibuses that go near to the monastery, although a short walk is also necessary.