Saudi Gazette TRABZOUN — Rize and Trabzon are without a doubt blessed with some of Turkey's most natural landscapes. These two provinces share borders and also have the most stunning green environments in which a rich selection of flora and fauna exist. Both regions also have a noticeably more laidback culture than the rest of Turkey, which may be attributed their relatively small populations. Rize, located in the Eastern Black Sea region, differs from other regions of Anatolia with its distinct culture and geographical structure. Rize is one of the special tourism resorts of Turkey with its steep slope valleys, high mountains, glacial lake, emerald green plateaus, historical arch bridge and castles and wildly flowing rivers. It's a treasure for eco tourists and offers unique access to Kaçkar Mountains which are ideal for trekking. It is common to see roads decorated with flowers that run alongside streams and green valleys and at the peak of the Kaçkar Mountains, glacial, smoke clouds and snow welcome visitors. Places to visit in Rize: - Rize Kalesi: Rize Castle is situated on a hill southwest of the city center, and offers a panoramic view of the city. The castle consists of a citadel and the lower castle. It is believed that the citadel was built during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian and the lower castle dates back to the 13th century. - Firtina Valley: While this region is a great visit all throughout the year, the best time to see the town is in the autumn when temperatures drop and the foliage dramatically changes colors - Ayder Plateau: The Ayder Plateau is fondly referred to as "honey forest" because of its delicacy: the honey. Trabzoun: One of the oldest commercial and harbor cities in Anatolia and due to its strategically- and commercially- important location, Trabzoun has a colorful history. It is a coastal town where silk road meet black sea. Trabzon has an international airport and is a 1-hour flight from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines currently flies to 7 destinations in Saudi Arabia, with 7 weekly flights from Istanbul to Yanbu, 5 weekly flights to Qassim and 3 weekly flights to Taif. There are also direct flights from Jeddah and Riyadh to Trabzoun. Besides the historical mosques inside the city center, the city is known for its monastery, Uzungol lake which is situated between two mountains, pine forests and wooden chalets. Things to do in Trabzoun: Visit Sumela Monastery - A stunning building on the side of a cliff. Uzungol Plateau - A small community that has grown around a large lake With a unique culinary culture different from the rest of Turkey, trying local dishes is a must. Hamsi Dishes Not only in Trabzon but in the entire Central and Eastern Black Sea Region, hamsi is a very popular and much eaten fish, which is made into a variety of dishes such as Hamsi kızartması, Hamsi güveci, Hamsili pilav and Hamsi kuşu. Sütlaç (rice pudding): Made with milk, rice and sugar and very little salt. The best sütlaç in the area is made in the village of Hamsiköy near Maçka, and is sold to restaurants. Muhlama is simply a corn meal cooked in butter, then made into a pudding-like consistency by the addition of water and lots of melted cheese. The last step is to pour melted, browned butter on top. This is one of the main dishes of Turkey's Eastern Black Sea region.
