Located on the borders of Europe and the start of Asia, Turkey has not only some of the best beaches of the Mediterranean Sea but also a land with an abundance of historical treasures. A surprising combination.
Its capital, Istanbul is a vibrant city with numerous minarets and bazaars that intoxicates those who visit with its exotic charm and hospitality.

Photography by bazylek100

Bodrum on the Aegean coast, is a beautiful centuries-old fishing village, with a lively atmosphere, fantastic beaches and idyllic coves surrounded by hills covered with pine and citrus groves.

Photography by HBarrison

The university city of Ankara has Roman baths, the Temple of Augustus and fascinating museums.

In the region of Antoli Diyabakir is a city of historical interest with a black basalt wall, as distinct symbol, the picturesque city of Riza nestled at the foot of the Alps Pontics and Erzurum, where the mountains offer the largest ski Turkey.

Nevsehir, the capital of the Cappadocia region, is a great base camp to discover the wonders of this area of the country.

Photography by jikatu

Essential places to visit in Turkey:

• The Kapali Carsi of Istanbul, is the largest indoor market and the oldest in the world.
• The Castle of San Pedro, the fifteenth century, which dominates the city of Bodrum.
• The charming walled city of Antalya on the edge of the cliffs of the western Mediterranean coast.
• Discover the beautiful landscape of houses carved out of volcanic rock 400 a.de C. is found in Cappadocia.

Sumela Monastery:

Sumela Monastery in Turkey, is located 54 kilometers (34 miles) south of Trabzon, a city located in the Turkish Black Sea coast, Sumela Monastery stands at the foot of a cliff overlooking the valley of Altindere, in the region of Macka, Trabzon province in Turkey. It is the biggest tourist attraction Altindere National Park. At an altitude of 1200 meters and from there you can see a great mountain scenery.

Photography by elainne_dickinson

Sumela is locked in the north wall of the cliff over the course of the Golden torrents, river famous for its large trout. Its architecture seems to be part of the blackish basalt, is located halfway between heaven, often cloudy, and the dense forests of beech, fir and chestnut trees.
You get to the monastery walk about 3 or 4 hours by a very steep hill, there is another point that may come up with car and then walk a half hours and a bit of it straight.

The history of the monastery:

According to tradition, Sumela was founded by two Greek monks, Barnabas and Sofronio, at this secluded spot of Anatolia following the directions from the Virgin appeared to them in 385, after the death of the monks in the year 412, They were venerated as saints and their remains were buried in the monastery, which became a famous monastery, the destination of pilgrimages from all over the Byzantine Empire. Justinian helped maintain and, paradoxically, the Ottoman Sultan Muhammad II, having conquered Trabzon in 1461 also bestowed special protection.
Some helpful hints:

• Language: Turkish.
• Currency: Turkish Lira.
• International code: 90.

Bon voyage!