Trebizond — The Emperors' Lost Secret

Your journey begins at the Ayasofya Müzesi in Trabzon, a former church built between 1238 and 1260 under Manuel I Comnenus, Emperor of Trebizond. This edifice, converted into a mosque in 1583 by Mehmed III and then a museum in 1964, houses 13th-century Byzantine frescoes, including a Virgin and Child and apostles, under a central dome 30 meters high. It is here, at the heart of this UNESCO Byzantine heritage, that the first clues are revealed, immersing you in the atmosphere of the Empire of Trebizond (1204-1461).

Next, the imposing walls of Trabzon Kalesi await you. These fortifications, erected as early as the 4th century BC by the Pontic Greeks and reinforced by the Comneni in the 13th century, are divided into an upper fortress on Boztepe hill and a lower one near the ancient port. You discover 15-meter high Byzantine remains, witnesses to the Trapezuntine resistance during the Ottoman conquest of 1461. The circuit takes you through these defenses that protected the Black Sea Silk Road for centuries, offering an unforgettable Trabzon visit.

Your route then leads you to Santa Maria Kilisesi, a Catholic church built in 1427 by Genoese merchants from the Caffa colony. It is the only medieval Latin church preserved in Northeast Turkey, with its single nave 18 meters long and 8 meters wide. Although it served as an Ottoman warehouse before its restoration in 1990, it represents Trabzon's commercial and cultural links with the West, a crucial aspect of Trabzon's history during the Empire of Trebizond.

The journey continues to Küçük Ayvasıl Kilisesi, an 11th-century church dedicated to the Virgin in the Ortahisar district. Its Byzantine architecture, with its dome and partially preserved wall frescoes, was restored between 2016 and 2018 by UNESCO and the Turkish government. Located just 800 meters from the Hagia Sophia Museum, this walking stop highlights the continuity of Trabzon's religious heritage, a historical site often overlooked by classic guides, essential for understanding the Black Sea thematic circuit.

Finally, your quest ends at Gülbahar Hatun Camii, a mosque built in 1514 by Gülbahar Hatun, the mother of Sultan Selim I. This early Ottoman style complex includes the mosque, a madrasa, and Gülbahar Hatun's tomb (died 1506), adorned with calligraphic inscriptions. Its 500 m² inner courtyard with a 16th-century ablution fountain offers a striking contrast to the previous Byzantine buildings. This monument illustrates the transition from the Empire of Trebizond to Ottoman rule, a key transition in Trabzon's history. This GPS scavenger hunt will have allowed you to visit Trabzon and its Black Sea heritage, offering a deep discovery of its monuments.