Between Giresun and Trabzon, are the quaint coastal towns of Kesap, Tirebolu, Gorele, Vakfikebir and Akcaabat squeesed between wooded mountains and the Black Sea waters. Stop at Gorele for delicious, submarine shaped meat and cheese "pitas" at Vakfikebir for the best butter and Akcaabat to sample the best kofte (meat rolls)

Trabzon, the major city of the region, was founded in the 17th century B.C. by Miletian colonists and was later at the center of the Comnene Empire established after the fall of Byzantine Istanbul. The exiled Byzantine court ruled until 1461 when the Ottomans conquered the area. The jewel of Trabzon's monuments is the restored 13th century Byzantine church, used for centuries as a mosque and now as the Ayasofya Museum. Splendid frescoes, some of the finest examples of Byzantine painting, cover every one of the interior church walls. Several other churches were converted to mosques, two becoming the Fatih Mosque and the Yeni Cuma Mosque. The Ottoman Gulbahar Mosque, atypical provincial style building, is set in a lovely tea garden. Wooden houses fill the old quarter nestled in the ancient fortifications, which still retain the spirit of a medieval town. The house in which Ataturk stayed has been made into a museum.
 

Boztepe (Ordu)

Sumela Monastry Altindere National Park (Trabzon)

On the hills above Trabzon, Boztepe Park offers a beautiful view of the city and coastline. On the western slopes of Boztepe Hill stands the Irene Tower, built by Empress Irene of Trabzon in 1340. Just east of the city, the village of Surmene has an impressive 19th century mansion known as the Kastel. Neat Trabzon, south of Akcaabat, the lovely highland meadows of Karadag, Hidirnebi and Erikbeli are idel for hiking and picnics. The road inland from Trabzon winds through spectacular mountain landscape before reaching the Zigana Tunnel, the longest in Turkey. Nearby Hamsikoy is a charming mountain village, that has gained a national reputation for its excellent cuisine (including the best rice pudding) and is also conve niently near the Zigana Ski Center. The beautiful meadows and highland pastures of Gurgenagac Yaylasi, Kirazli Yaylasi and Solma Yaylasi are ideal sites for outdoor activities. Traditional Kadirga Festival Celebrates the annual summer migration to the high mountain pastures.

Altindere National Park provides a magnificent setting for the 14 century Sumela Monastery, perched high on a cliff face 270 meters above a deep gorge. Surrounded by the ruins of the monk's quarters, is a church covered inside and out with brillant frescoes. Southesat of Trabzon is Lake Uzungol, a lovely alpine lake surrounded by mountains and meadows, excellent for camping, hiking and fishing. The restaurants there also make it the best place for eating river trout.