One of the iconic religious and cultural sites of Turkey, the Panagia Sumela Monastery, will again receive tourists from May 1, 2022.
Between May 1 and May 22, the temple complex was visited by 26,033 tourists.
Earlier, due to the risks of rockfall, it was decided to restore the monastery.
As part of the restoration initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the first phase of the project was completed in February 2016: the territory adjacent to the monastery was landscaped, and the risk of rockfalls was reduced.
In May 2019, part of the monastery from the entrance to the courtyard was opened to the public.

The last stage of the restoration of the monastery was completed by July 2021.
Dangerous rocks were secured with steel ropes and stone retaining barriers were built. Thus, the experts eliminated the risk of rockfalls.

Sumela Monastery, built by carving rocks in the Karadag Valley in the Machka district of Trabzon, offers visitors a unique combination of nature, history, and culture.

The temple is considered one of the most ancient and inaccessible places of worship in the world.

At the same time, Panagia Sumela Monastery is one of the most visited attractions in Turkey.
The Orthodox Monastery of Panagia Sumela, built in the late 4th and early 5th century in the northern Turkish province of Trabzon, is a major attraction for Greek pilgrims as well as other travelers from all over the world.

The monastery complex, built on a sheer cliff in the Altindere valley at an altitude of 1,300 m above sea level, includes the main church in honor of the Blessed Virgin, carved into the chalk rock, chapels, cells, cookery, a school, a library, utility rooms, and an aqueduct.

The monastery was popular with local and foreign tourists even when it was closed.

Here, in addition to unsurpassed views, visitors can enjoy trekking, mountain biking, and photo safari.

The historic Sumela Monastery was inscribed on the Tentative UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
With the advent of spring, the monastery attracts attention with its view, reflecting thousands of shades of green.

Tourists can get a bird's eye view of the Sumela Monastery from the viewing terraces or see 3D views of Sumela during a visit to the "Church of Agia Varvara".

Sumela combines the region's historical and natural beauties, as well as capsize and filigree work unique to the local culture.

In the vicinity of Sumela, tourists have the opportunity to taste delicacies such as cornbread, local yogurt, and butter, as well as local cuisine.

Koray Kochan, the head of the administration of Machka, told the Anadolu Agency that the latest restoration work has become the largest since the founding of the monastery.

At the moment, the monastery is ready to receive tourists from all over the world, he stressed.

Kochan noted that with the opening of new compartments for visiting, interest in the monastery has grown significantly, tourists spend more time on the territory of the temple complex.