May 2012
While on our Black Sea Turkish Coast trip we visited beautiful Trabzon which has been a major trade centre over the centuries. It is located on Caravan Trade Route known as the Silk Road which travels through Syria, Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon and Iran. Marco Polo and many other historical characters are said to have visited Trabzon.
Amajor attraction in Trabzon is the Hagia Sophia, a beautiful and picturesque church set in lovely peaceful grounds. It was built as the Church of Saint Sofia between 1238 and 1268 but was converted into a mosque in 1496 and the stunning frescos were then covered with whitewash. The frescos were uncovered in 1964 when Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum. It was so stunning that we took heaps of photos.
(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them)
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Hagia Sofia in Trabzon
The 40m high Bell Tower was built in 1427 |
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It has stunning frescos inside.
Fresco of The Last Supper
Beautiful Tiles Standing Outside in the Grounds |
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| The Pavement of Multi Coloured Stones |
We also visited the delightful Kiosk of Ataturk (Ataturk Pavilion/ Museum) set in manicured grounds built in 1890 by a local Greek merchant. In 1924 and 1937 Ataturk stayed in the villa during his visit to Trabzon It houses period rooms and serves as a monument to the memory of the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey.
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Inside Ataturk Museum
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Trabzon and would love to return.
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