Turkey: Sumela Monastery
In the mountains above Trabzon lies the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Sumela Monastery at the elevation of nearly 7000 feet. The location is stupendous, the monastery is clinging to an absolutely vertical cliff of Mount Mela. The monastery was founded by two Greek monks back in the 4th century, supposedly they were guided here by the “black” image of Virgin Mary (or maybe they just got lost). The monastery grew to a very large size, with monk quarters dug into stone walls and chapels richly decorated with elaborate frescoes. The monastery was protected during Ottoman times by sultans, but was badly damaged and most fresco destroyed since the independence. Once designated by UNESCO, the restoration work began and is ongoing. Getting to Sumela is an adventure, it’s a crazy mountain road, then a shuttle over even crazier roads, and finally a steep hike up the mountain.
