Address
Sumela Monastery,
Altindere Vadisi,
Macka Trabzon, Turkey
Customer Service
Phone: +90 464 250 0333
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About Sumela Monastery
Sumela Monastery is a popular tourist attraction in Turkey. It is a 1600 year old Orthodox monastery, located on a cliff at Macka region, Trabzon. Said to have established by two Greek priests named Barnabas and Sophronios, the monastery was built in 386 AD. The monastery was occupied by several emperors and dynasties, including Komnenos Dynasty, Alexios Komnenos III and sultan Mehmet II who conquered Trabzon in 1461. It was abandoned after the collapse of Ottoman Empire.
Several renovations are currently undertaken by the Turkish government. Inside the monastery, you have a central courtyard, several chapels, springs, guesthouse, library and rock church. The monastery is a 30-minutes walk from the nearest village. There are regular tours held to reach Sumela. You can also take a minibus from Trabzon to Macka, and from Macka to Altindere National Park. Located at a height of 1,200 meters, one of the highlights of the location is the Rock Church which is covered in frescoes in the interiors and exteriors. The frescoes depict the story of Christ and the Virgin Mary. For more information or queries on tickets, timings, transportation, or others, reach the Sumela Monastery customer service.
