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Trabzon

HISTORY AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND Trabzon is a hub of the Eastern Black Sea Region, with a long history, rich culture and great natural beauty. While Trabzon bears the marks of past civilisations, its earliest history remains mysterious but the Central Asian origin Turkish people are said to have inhabited the city first. On the other hand, archaeological excavations have revealed traces of human habitation during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. In light of these finds, we can say that the earliest known settlement was a trading colony of Miletus that came into existence around 670 BC. The name of the city is first mentioned as “Trapezus" in the book of Xenophon entitled Anabasis. An important Silk Road connection between Europe and Asia, Trabzon has hosted many civilisations throughout its history. The Cimmerians, Medes, Persians and Macedonians were among the earlier rulers of the port city. The city was part of the Eastern Empire after the split of Rome, controlled by the Byzantine Empire and later the Komnenos Dynasty. The Komnenoi began to rule Trabzon at the dawn of the 13th century, and lasted more than 250 years until 1461, when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror, conquered the city. Trabzon has been an inspiration for world-renowned travellers such as Xenophon, Evliya Çelebi, Fallmerayer and Frunze, who visited the city and immortalized it in travel books and manuscripts. Today, the city is also an important centre of commerce and culture, replete with its museums, monasteries, mosques, tombs, caravanserais, bathhouses, covered bazaar, city walls and magnificent examples of civic architecture, markets, a fantastic landscape, and mystical nature. The people of Trabzon preserve the traditional handcrafts, such as stone-carving and wood-carving, weaving, jewellery making, the art of the coppersmith, knife making, and quilting. Trabzon's gold and silver jewellery, its typical horon line Dance, the local musical instrument kemençe (Byzantine Lyra) and its sport have found a worldwide audience.

What to do in Trabzon ;

Museums:

Museum of Trabzon (Mansion House of Kostaki)

The Museum of Trabzon is one of the rare examples of

European architecture in Turkey. It was built in 1917 as the

mansion house of Alexi Kostaki. The building was used as

the Vocational Lycée for Maidens between 1937 and 1987.

The Ministry of Culture began renovation work in 1988, and

the building reopened as the Museum of Trabzon on the

22nd of April 2001.

Ayasofya Museum

Ayasofya Museum is one of the most prominent Byzantine

era structures in the region. The building is thought to date

to the reign of Komnenoi Emperor Manuel I, between 1238

and 1263.

Village House Exhibition

Museum of Atatürk The Museum of Atatürk, in Soğuksu Village, was built at the end of 19th century as the summer retreat of the Banker Konstantinos Kapagiannidis. Atatürk stayed here during his first visit to Trabzon in 1924, and on subsequent visits. He wrote part of his last will and testament here, and after his death the building was converted into a museum exhibiting several personal items and photographs.

The Museum of Trabzonspor FC

Black SeaRegion Traditional Life Style Exhibition

Kanuni House The splended building commisioned in the district where Süleyman the magnifient was born is a structure dating to the 19 th century and is now used an exhibition house.

Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and Tomb Ottoman Sultan Selim I, the Grim, commissioned this mosque in 1514 to commemorate his mother Gülbahar Hatun.

Sumela (Virgin Mary) Monastery This Greek Orthodox Church and Monastery Complex, Panagia Soumela or Theotokos (Mother of God) Soumela, was built 1,200 metres above the sea level, on Mount Mela, on the western banks of the Panagia (Virgin Mary) Stream. Today the monastery is in Altındere Village, Maçka County of Trabzon Province.

Fortress of Trabzon The fortress extends from the shore to the hills above the city, and it is the best-preserved structure of its type in the region. Its origins go back to the 4th century AD. The defensive walls are divided into sections known as the Upper Fortifications, Citadel, Middle Fortifications and Lower Fortifications.

For more information;

Source : http://www.trabzonkulturturizm.gov.tr/Eklenti/6793,trabzonkatalog-ingilizcepdf.pdf?0