Sümela Monastery

The Theotokos-centered Sümela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery situated in the Pontic Mountains near Karada in the Maçka neighborhood of Trabzon Province in contemporary Turkey. It is a location of immense historical and cultural value as well as a significant tourist destination inside Altndere National Park. It is nestled in a high rock at an elevation of around 1,200 meters facing the Altndere valley. On September 22, 2015, the monastery was temporarily closed to the public for one year in order to address an upsurge in rock falls; this was then extended to three years. For visitors, it reopened on May 25, 2019. One of Trabzon's most significant historical and touristic attractions is the monastery.

Due to the need for repairs and field work, the Monastery was closed to tourists on September 22, 2015, for a period of three years. In 2019, on May 18, it reopened. Video footage from 2022 displayed dancing and contemporary music at the location. An explanation was provided that this was done to encourage tourism after online outrage that the medieval monastery had been converted into a dance club. However, its spectacular rock-hewn cathedral, which is covered in vibrant, centuries-old murals, is without a doubt the attraction. Sumela Monastery is a very significant and spectacular historical and cultural landmark that is protected and conserved by the Turkish government as a museum and is only reachable by climbing up several long and curving stone stairs.

Location: Maçka, Trabzon Province, Turkey