Trabzon, TurkeyHalf daySummer
Sümela Abbey
Sümela Abbey is one of the notable stops in Trabzon, with a route-friendly location for your trip.
Quick facts
- Built
- 386
- Heritage status
- Tentative World Heritage Site
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why was the monastery built on such a high cliff?
It was built around a natural cave on a sheer rock face about 1,150 m up Mount Altındağ. Inaccessibility served both the seclusion of monastic life and security.
When was the monastery abandoned?
It was emptied in the 1923 population exchange and left untended for decades, during which the frescoes suffered badly. After extensive restoration it reopened in 2019, and a service is permitted there once a year.
How did water reach the monastery?
An aqueduct running through the rock carried spring water to the monastery's cistern. The complex also held a rock-cut church, chapels, a kitchen, student rooms and a library.
Why go?
- Easy to add to your route
- Good photo stop
- Popular local highlight
