10,564 people visited Sumela Monastery during Ramadan Feast
The monastery, built by carving into the rocks at an altitude of 300 meters in the Altındere Valley of Karadağ in Trabzon's Maçka district, became a frequent destination for culture and nature enthusiasts during the holiday.
AA
Long queues formed on the path and at the ticket office providing access to Sumela Monastery, also known among the public as "Virgin Mary".
According to information received from officials of the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, 10,564 domestic and foreign tourists visited the monastery, with 3,476 on the first day of the holiday, 3,573 on the second day, and 3,515 on the third day.
English teacher Şule Keskin, who stated that she came to Trabzon from Erzurum for the holiday, told an AA reporter that she liked Sumela Monastery very much.
Expressing that she visited the monastery in 2003, Keskin said, "Now I have brought my children. It has changed quite a bit in 20 years, and we really liked that. The first year we came, we had difficulty walking and climbing. But now it is more comfortable, nice things have been done, it is quite good both in terms of safety and for children."
Stating that the visitor density was also high, Keskin added, "They said it was busier yesterday, it was calmer today, but it is still very crowded and quite beautiful. We would like everyone to come and visit."
Recep Çakır, who came to the region from Istanbul for a trip, said that Sumela Monastery is a place that everyone should come and see in terms of its historical texture.
Emphasizing that it was also particularly nice to carry out the visit together with people coming from all over the world during the holiday rush, Çakır used the expression, "It is a place that everyone from all over the world should see."