Sumela Monastery
71 review
December 6, 2024
It's an amazing place. The temple is located right on the mountainside. Very beautiful panoramas. There are several viewing platforms. Clean air. It's probably cool in summer. We were comfortable in light jackets in December. The route is easy. There are many steps. There is a parking lot. There are toilets. You can also take an Audi guide. I highly recommend it. A place of spiritual power.
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1
November 8, 2024
An interesting place in the mountains (1200m). Recently renovated, entrance is paid. There is also a paid lift by minibus from the parking lot. There is a cafe with good coffee and souvenirs. Beautiful ancient mosaic on the walls. Wonderful view of the mountains. You can get from Trabzon in 50 minutes and $100 round trip with a 2h wait.
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February 27
We traveled by car from Russia to Turkey, on the way back we stopped for the night in Trabzon, decided to look on the Internet what you can see in the surrounding area and it was just the cherry on the cake after a long journey and many historical sites of Istanbul. After seeing the monastery of Smela and experiencing life in that place, it becomes even uneasy how strong the people of those times were!
Now for more details:
The Sumela Monastery is a real gem hidden in the mountains of northern Turkey on the Black Sea coast. Located on the steep slope of Mount Mela in Trabzon province, this ancient Orthodox monastery impresses with its incredible location and rich history.
The first thing that takes your breath away is the location itself. The monastery is literally carved into the rock at an altitude of about 1,200 meters above sea level, with stunning views of the Altyndere Valley. The road to the monastery is an adventure in itself, requiring a small climb, but the effort is fully justified if you walk. For everyone else, buses are not expensive at all, 20 liras or 0.5 $, if there is not much time on the bus.
Further:
Founded in the 4th century, the Siumela Monastery preserves many historical layers, from Byzantine frescoes to elements of Ottoman architecture. The preserved wall paintings inside the rock church are particularly impressive, some of which date back to the 13th century.
After extensive restoration, the monastery became even more accessible to visitors. Nevertheless, I recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists and enjoy the special atmosphere of this place in silence.
Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and a camera - the views here are simply incredible at any time of the year, although the monastery looks especially beautiful against the background of greenery in summer or among autumn colors if you go down to the temple (located just below, in front of the shops to the left) from there, there is a great panorama of the monastery in the rock.
Visiting the Siumela Monastery is not just an excursion, but a real immersion in the history, culture and natural beauty of the region. Definitely worth including in your travel itinerary in Turkey.
The cost of visiting the monastery was $35, which is 10 times cheaper for Turkish citizens. There's plenty to drink and snack on top.
See original · Русский
November 24, 2024
An interesting place of ancient Christianity.
The price of a visit by car with parking and a ticket is 50 euros for two.
To broaden your horizons, visit. The Turks are doing well, they are reconstructing everything, improving it, taking money for everything.
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February 6
Oh! That's something! We were lucky - it was cold and snowy at night, and sunny and warm during the day. All the charm of the mountain weather and the ringing air! The charm of a snowy forest and a spring drop! Climbing the icy steps and gorgeous photos against the background of the riot of stone vertical walls of the monastery! This place is absolutely stunning in its beauty!
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January 4
From the port, we agreed with a taxi driver for $ 70 round trip and 2 hours of waiting. 60 lira bus through the park. The entrance to the complex itself is 20 euros for foreigners. But it's not a pity to see the ancient Christian frescoes and the settlement carved into the rock.
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1
August 20, 2024
I urge you to think hard before visiting this place. There are an excessive number of disadvantages in my opinion.
For four adults, the visit cost almost 10,000 rubles. We arrived on our own in our own car. The scheme is the same for everyone: arrival at the square with parking, then transfer to the "minibus" to the monastery and a walking march to the goal. The price consists of three payments: 900 liras entrance ticket for one, parking 50 liras per hour and a ticket for a minibus to the monastery 52 liras each (round trip). The toilet is 2 lira. August 2024
I do not recommend saving on a minibus. The ascent is very steep, and the distance is decent (about 2 km.). We saw the enthusiasts who went on foot, they looked unhappy.
After disembarking from the bus, you need to walk up the path with stairs. About 400-500 meters. The young and healthy will have eyes at half past five after climbing to the goal, those who are older by half past seven. At the stages of the ascent, there are benches for recreation.
The "monastery" itself is very modest in size. It takes no more than 10-15 minutes to inspect it with a visit to all the farthest corners.
Here the most important disappointment and perplexity will befall you. These are some kind of semi-ruins mixed with an open-air remodel and rivers of people who scurry back and forth taking selfies. There is practically nothing to look at there.
Judging by the pictures, the weather here is rarely good, so we got into rain and heavy fog. Take umbrellas and raincoats.
The use of copters is prohibited (warnings are hanging).
The total visit time is 2 hours.
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9
5
January 24
A great place for lovers of antiquities, history and just beautiful nature. I definitely recommend you to visit.
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January 8
The monastery was built in the 4th century AD on a cliff at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. The frescoes have been preserved. It's definitely worth a look.
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May 21, 2024
A curious place, of course. But Admission is 30 euros per person, children are free. Parking (50 lire per hour). You buy a minibus ticket (40 lire people) and they take you all the way to the monastery. You can walk uphill, but it will be hard and long, so you will have to pay for a minibus.
I didn't like these extortions, I wouldn't go there a second time. The views around are beautiful, judging by the photos. When we were there, it was foggy. And apart from walking around the monastery for a bit, we couldn't do anything else.
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6
November 2, 2024
It's expensive, you pay 160 lira to be taken upstairs by bus, you also pay 20 euros for a ticket, they did everything cool, but it seems expensive
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January 23
A 100% recommendation to visit, you need to see it 1 time than hear it a hundred times. Turkey is the cradle of Christianity, and in this country you can study history "under every stone."
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August 16, 2024
The place is a must-visit, if you are in northern Turkey, the staff does not speak Russian, prepare a minimum English for the Transfer of the checkpoint to the mountain. The transfer in August cost 53 lira, entrance to the monastery 730) have a nice trip.
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3
January 25
Impressed by this monastery!!! A unique place. Ancient frescoes. Located in the mountains.
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February 24
When you come to such places, you can't help but believe in God, how much strength he gave people to save their faith and build a monastery in such a remote place.
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September 21, 2024
If you have an extra 20 euros per person and free time…
We visited in July 2024, reconstruction is underway, at the moment everything is very sad
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3
June 26, 2024
It's a very beautiful place. We were out of season, few people, it's very cool. If you buy an official entrance ticket, then you can get an audio guide in Russian, you only need to install the application. Parking and delivery from the parking lot are charged separately.
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4
1
June 5, 2024
Mentally. Time travel, falling into the past for centuries. The richest frescoes, albeit partially lost, but restored by restorers. Fascinated, she found, recognized and examined all the Gospel stories. Tourists from all continents. We did not spare the money that we gave for parking, for a minibus, for tickets, realizing how much it costs to restore, maintain, provide an accessible highway and an equipped hiking trail. It is definitely necessary to come in good weather - not to see the surrounding landscapes in fog or rain, it's like losing half the value of the trip. We are lucky! And not only from the height of the monastery, the whole road along the Machki river, as soon as you turn off the highway between Trabzon and Torul, is incredibly picturesque. It partly resembles the road along the Belaya River in Adygea, only here waterfalls and mountain streams are clearly visible. You can't resist stopping to listen to the murmur or noisy murmur of a stormy, clean mountain river.
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October 2, 2024
The price is 20 euros per person, + parking + bus.
There's nothing to do there for that money. Another monastery, fortress, ruins, etc. on the rock
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1
December 26, 2024
A must-visit. Monastery in the rock with great views and ancient history.
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July 6, 2023
I was in this beautiful place, when you are there you feel a huge energy. The nature is fantastic, the temple itself did not require human efforts at the time of construction! God be praised that such a place has been preserved! Many thanks to the Turkish authorities for coming to their senses and preserving the pro-Orthodox shrine. This is one of the most ancient temples of the pro-Orthodox church! I advise everyone to visit it at least once in their lives, I wish everyone well and prosperity!!!
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4
August 21, 2024
For history lovers, it is a must-visit. The bonus is the beautiful nature, but take into account the steep hike.
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2
December 15, 2024
It's quite interesting that I gave this historical place 3 stars because of the way it operates. There is a procedural news that does not specify who is below,a group is directing you to the car park. You are being forced to fill up. You also pay a parking fee on the way back.
See original · Türkçe
1
1
December 15, 2024
You cannot enter the territory. It is very far to walk, minibuses run, but you cannot pay with a card (
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1
September 30, 2024
The road to the monastery is very picturesque, and the monastery itself is worth a look.
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1
February 12
In a word, it is a very beautiful place. The walking path may sound long, but there is a very beautiful hiking trail in nature, and there is a monastery at the end that is worth seeing
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1
June 8, 2024
The view is stunning. Very interesting inside.
When you log in, ask the employee for an audio guide account, he will open the website for you and set it up using a qr code.
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March 16, 2023
03/16/2013 the monastery was opened. We drove under our own power to the barrier, there are 125 liras per person (everyone who is in the car, if there is no Turkish citizenship or citizenship. It's free for them). A child of 6 years old is free of charge (documents were not checked). We reached the parking lot. There's 20 lire per person on dolmushi. It takes about 5 minutes to drive. At the entrance, a Turkish citizen passed for 60 liras and was given a map of the museum. It seems that she gives some privileges. And we are already free. There are many stairs. Those who love history and ancient buildings are interested for them. I liked. But for a one-time visit. Almost all rooms are open. You can touch everything)))) but there's nothing much to touch.
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4
June 16, 2024
It's a very interesting place. Historically and visually. The only thing is that there are a lot of people all the time. Unfortunately, the condition of the "old parts" is not particularly good, vandalism is present. Therefore, if you want to touch the old days, it's better to go while there is something to see.
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5
September 15, 2024
The feeling is fabulous , words cannot betray !!! We need to go there !!!!
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2
1
August 17, 2022
It is definitely worth it to get here from Trabzon, or to turn around driving along the coast. An ancient Orthodox Monastery, which Islam has respectfully preserved and soundly restored. There is much to learn from the Turks. There is a national park around, the visit is paid, everything is well organized and convenient. It would be difficult to get there on foot, but mini vans (minibuses) go up from the parking lot of private transport. I was surprised by the abundance of Turkish tourists and pilgrims. It's a beautiful place.
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8
November 11, 2024
that beautiful structure that I tried to visit at 2 different times, but I couldn't see anywhere except the garden 3. I will travel on my visit 🤣
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1
August 29, 2023
It's a very beautiful place. There are many ancient frescoes. I recommend visiting from the very opening, after an hour there are already too many people.
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3
February 25
The pearl of my hometown is one of the places to see before you die
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June 26, 2023
a great place, we got there by taxi, entrance tickets can be paid using the Union Pay GPB card. There are small buses from the parking lot, then steps
Very beautiful,
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3
February 25
The super place is definitely a place to go
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June 29, 2023
An amazing place, especially the view in the mountains, amazes how a temple was built on the mountains. A lot of interesting things open up before your eyes.
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3
August 31, 2022
Only Turks.I didn't like the division of tickets.At the entrance, you buy tickets for everyone at the entrance.You pay for parking separately.You're paying for the bus again.And if there was no translator at hand, then they would have paid at the entrance to the temple itself.Couldn't you have made an all-inclusive ticket?You're Turks and that's your thing.The monastery itself is worth a look.But once.It's better to come here in the morning.Maybe there will be fewer people.And to go down on foot, it's not that far.But you will walk through a beautiful park where there are a lot of waterfalls.It seems that there is always frost here.It's better to take something warmer.
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3
5
May 20, 2024
It's a great place, you need to visit it at least once! It's a pity I got caught in the rain...
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2
1
October 11, 2024
It's a great place. It needs to be protected very well, there is a lot to say to those who scrape pictures, but the system does not allow it.
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1
October 2, 2024
I recommend a very beautiful, perfect place to visit
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1
December 16, 2024
I recommend it to everyone. He has no wife and the like. A separate value.
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1
September 9, 2024
Crazy place! I recommend it to everyone!
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2
February 15, 2024
A place that cannot be ignored if you find yourself in Trabzon! But dress warmer, it's incredibly cold there!
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4
October 13, 2024
The only place I regret that I didn't see until I was this age. You should definitely read his history. Wonderful
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1
December 5, 2024
Absolutely must see , fascinating
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1
November 24, 2024
It's a great place to go, go see
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1
October 4, 2024
It definitely needs to be toured
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1
November 6, 2022
It's a long drive by car, of course. But then you will find PAID Parking, a PAID museum (well, this is logical) and either 2 km of ascent on foot, or PAID pick-up minibuses.
But everything is worth visiting this place. It is very beautiful, interesting and informative. But for weak people, I say right away: it will be difficult for you here.
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2
October 12, 2024
Bad Public service. Sloppy officials. Rude behavior to visitors
See original · Türkçe
2