Sumela Monastery in Turkey is an artistic and architectural masterpiece, surrounded by mystery and legends that arouse curiosity. This amazing monastery, founded in the 4th century AD, is perched on a steep cliff at an altitude of about 305 meters in the Altindere National Park, making it seem like something out of a fantasy. Located an hour south of Trabzon, a beautiful city on the Black Sea coast, it attracts thousands of visitors every day, both tourists and pilgrims who wander its corridors.
The unique structure contains courtyards, a library, a bell tower, and even a sacred spring believed to be a place of blessing and healing. Since its conversion into a state museum, Sumela Monastery has undergone continuous restoration to improve security and preserve its ancient medieval frescoes, which depict scenes from heaven and hell, life and death.
During the restoration, hidden treasures were discovered, such as a secret tunnel leading to a previously undiscovered church, believed to have been used as a defensive point. Museum officials say professional mountaineers were called in to install a steel net to protect visitors from falling rocks.
Sumela Monastery is also linked to the legend of its founding: Greek monks Barnabas and Sophronius are said to have been drawn to the site by a vision of the Virgin Mary, who guided them to a holy image inside a cave in the Pontus Mountains.