The Sumela Monastery sits on a steep cliff.
There are some holiday destinations that are so endearing to us that we would love to visit again. Trabzon in Turkiye is that place for me.
Located on the coast of the Black Sea, northeast of Turkiye, Trabzon is more than 1,000km away from Istanbul, making it a “little” out of the way for tourists. I was fortunate to discover this gem of a place during a recent trip.
The hotel we stayed in was just a few minutes from the airport and with a late return flight to Malaysia, our two nights’ stay could be fully utilised with the best of what Trabzon had to offer. The places of interest in Trabzon are easily accessible; visitors do not have to endure long bus rides to reach any of them.
Did you know that Trabzon has its own Hagia Sophia? Albeit smaller than the popular one in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia here is no less impressive and replete with history. Situated near the seashore, the building’s architecture is magnificent and it is a must-visit site. The South Facade is most impressive and there is a signboard explaining the stone carving details.
Anyone can enter the building, but do dress appropriately – ladies would need to cover their heads with a headscarf, too. Upon entry, frescos and motifs meet the eye. As with any historical monuments, every artwork here tells a story and our local guide did a fantastic job of sharing his knowledge with us.
The interior of the Sumela Monastery.
The Sumela Monastery, meanwhile, has been nominated to be a Unesco World Heritage Site. It was closed to the public in 2015 due to rock falls and was reopened in May 2019. Certain rock faces were still undergoing strengthening works during our visit.
To get there, our bus had to meander through several bends before dropping us off at a pick-up point. We then had to take a smaller bus and ride for less than 10 minutes before proceeding on foot to a viewpoint where we could see the monastery on a steep cliff.
At an altitude of 1,200m and facing the Altindere valley, the view was exquisite. The monastery is still in use today as a place of retreat and worship. Inside, frescos spread across the walls. There’s just so much to learn about this place so be sure to go with a local guide if you’re ever in Trabzon.
The Mustafa Kamal Ataturk Pavilion looked like an ordinary white-washed building from the outside but its linkage to one of the greatest leaders in modern Turkiye signified its greatness. It was initially a lodge but currently functions as a museum.
The pavilion was “donated” to the public by Ataturk. His belongings, photographs and paraphernalia are displayed in the various rooms across the three-storey pavilion. In a room called “The Will”, you can see a document signed by the former leader which states that all his belongings should be donated to the people.
Our trip was not all about buildings and structures, of course. Nature beckoned with Ayder and Uzungol on the travel list. Both are mountainous holiday retreats with cool temperatures and gorgeous greenery. There were several waterfalls cascading down the slopes of the mountains in Ayder, while Uzungol’s lake shimmered under the sunlight.
It was drizzling in Ayder when we visited and the place was shrouded in mist. Meanwhile, in Uzungol, we were driven to a viewpoint with a magnificent view of the valley. Shops, hotels and restaurants dot both areas but these structures do not overwhelm the place.
The South Facade of the Hagia Sophia in Trabzon.
These places were really worth visiting and longer stays would have enabled us to immerse in many of the activities, but unfortunately we just didn’t have time.
Nonetheless, the few hours that we spent there gave us a good glimpse of the region. Future visits will definitely include overnight stays.
Amid all the sight-seeing, we still had time to indulge in one of Malaysians’ favourite holiday activities – shopping! We bought local items like tea, hazelnuts (of which Turkiye is a major world producer), handicrafts, leather goods and other souvenirs.
We ended our Trabzon tour with a group photo taken against the backdrop of the city and the word “Trabzon” emblazoned on the Boztepe walkway viewpoint. As it was evening, the photo had to be taken against the sun with its rays casting our shadows on the boardwalk and leaving our insignia here at Trabzon.
Alas, with a heavy heart I bade farewell to Trabzon and hope to visit again.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
