The Sumela Monastery is a 4th century Greek Orthodox monastery located in Trabzon Province, Turkey. Built into the side of a cliff overlooking the Altindere Valley, it is one of the oldest surviving Christian monasteries. The monastery's name comes from either the Greek word "melas" meaning black, or the Black Mountains where it sits. Though no longer located in a Christian country, it remains an important architectural and cultural site in the region.

1. Trabzon
Turkey

18. Sümela Monastery (The Monastery of Virgin Mary)
The Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to
the Virgin Mary, located on Melá Mountain within the Pontic Mountains
in the Trabzon Province in northeast modern-day Turkey. Built in the
4th century, the monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the
Christian world, though it is no longer located in a Christian country. In
this article, Culture Trip explores the history of this architectural feat.
The Sumela Monastery, sitting at the foot of a cliff facing the Altindere
Valley in Maçka, in the Trabzon province, is known to locals as
‘Meryem Ana‘ (The Virgin Mary). The origins of its name are uncertain.
Some sources say it comes from ‘Melas,’ which means black, or from
the mountains on which it stands, called the Karadaglar (Black
Mountains). Other experts believe that the name comes from the black
color of the icon of the Virgin Mary, a very likely hypothesis as Black
Madonnas in the region are a very common sight.

23. Kolbastı is a popular Turkish dance.
It was originally created in the 1930s
in the seaport of Giresun on the
Black Sea coast of north-eastern
Turkey. Loosely translated, 'kolbastı'
means 'caught red-handed by the
police.

25. The horon is a Black Sea region
line dance with lots of “shaking
going on” that represents hamsi
(sardines) caught on a fishing
trawl line. Dancers often hit 300
steps a minute!

27. Ayder is one of Turkey’s most beautiful tourist places, featuring natural
beauty, charm, green mountains with snow on peaks, where tourists can
enjoy unforgettable times.
Ayder Village is located on a green hill in Rize, north Turkey, an
attraction for tourists from all around the world who flock to the village to
enjoy its natural charm, especially its spreading green farms and forests.
Weather in Ayder is mostly cold over all seasons; the average
temperatures in winter are 2 Cº – 12 Cº, and 10 Cº – 20 Cº in summer.
Ayder turkey heights is one of Turkey’s most beautiful tourist places, 150
km from Trabzon Airport, a 2-hour drive. The way to Ayder is rich in
natural waterfalls, forests, and restaurants spreading out on both sides.
Ayder heights feature a fantastic location amongst mountains, forests,
and waterfalls surrounding it from all sides. Not to mention, it has
stunning views of plains, valleys, and high mountains with snow on
peaks.

28. Top 3 Activities in Ayder
1. Ayder Heights is one of Turkey’s most beautiful tourist places, 150 km
from Trabzon Airport, a 2-hour drive. The way to Ayder is rich in natural
waterfalls, forests, and restaurants spreading out on both sides. Ayder
heights feature a fantastic location amongst mountains, forests, and
waterfalls surrounding it from all sides. Not to mention, it has stunning
views of plains, valleys, and high mountains with snow on peaks.
2. Rafting in Ayder The way to Ayder is packed with waterfalls, forests, and
spots for rafting. Tourists can enjoy a 7-km rafting adventure with the help
of professionals, documenting unforgettable moments via digital
photography in Ayder at the ancient Ottoman bridges.
3. Hot Mineral Baths in Ayder Hot mineral baths are one of Turkey’s most
beautiful tourist places, a perfect solution for healing rheumatism, arthritis,
fractures, dislocations, joint stiffness, knee pain, and depression. Hot
mineral water lovers searching for relaxation and healing would like to visit
Ayder and enjoy its hot springs.

30. Hamsi, which is Turkish for anchovy, is a
famous traditional food of Trabzon found
in the Black Sea Region and is very
culturally significant. There are poems,
folk songs, and stories all about it since
it's been a major staple of Black Sea
cuisine for millennia. No wonder it's
dubbed the 'prince of fish'!

32. Uzungol Lake In Trabzon: The Magical
Turkish Nature
One of Turkey's most famous landmarks is a natural lake of Uzungol, it's
become a major attraction for tourists from all over the world, known for its
beauty and magical surroundings.
Uzungol location: Where is Uzungol Lake Located? Uzungol Lake is located
in the south-eastern part of Trabzon on the foothills of the Soganli Mountains
in the Çaykara district of Trabzon province in northeastern Turkey on the
Black Sea. The lake has been named after a village on the lake shore. Over
the years, the lake has gained a lot of popularity and attracted many tourists
from around the world. It is about 99 km away from the center of Trabzon
city center, and about 19 km from the center of Çaykara. The lake was
formed about five centuries ago when the Hellen dam blocked the flow of the
Haldinese River. The lake rises 1100 meters from the sea level and the
length of its circumference is seven kilometers. Also its water is sweet.

33. A lot of tourists visit the lake to spend their day there. You will find the fishermen
fishing there and specifically fishing the river salmon, which lives in cold water,
making it the favorite dish for tourists and there are restaurants famous for cooking
in the village next to the lake. The transport infrastructure was improved near the
lake. In 2008, the government erected a concrete barrier along the shoreline of the
lake so as not to dampen coastal roads due to its waves, but this provoked
protests by local residents and environmental organizations concerned with
environmental damage and said it could turn into a giant artificial pond.
The lake is visited by many tourists from all over the world and from the Arabs in
particular. It is the second most popular trip in Turkey after the monastery of
Sumela in Trabzon and you will find in the neighboring village small hotels so
tourists may visit them two days or more as they wish and spend their time
roaming in nature or camping, Especially between the months of May and July,
where the weather is beautiful, moderate and sunny, You may need some time to
stroll around the lake in the mountains and the beautiful nature. You can take a
break in the village's restaurants, which offer the most delicious food. There are
souvenir shops, moreover, the road to the lake is very difficult, it is full of turns
between the mountains and full of gravel, yet many tourists come by bus or private
cars from the city of Trabzon and as it takes about an hour to an hour and a half.

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