Santa, The
Hidden City of Gumushane
In the context of religious tourism, here is one of the most
important tourism centers for Christian Society in Eastern Black
Sea Region that comes after Sumela Monastery (The Monastery of
Virgin Mary) and Ayasofia (Hagia Sofia).
Ruins of Santa City locate in Yeni Yayla that is near the
Gumushane city borders and it is nearly 40 kms away from the
seaside and its altitude is 1600m. The ancient city was
established on 3 different slopes of a mountain that were
separated by valleys and the date of its firstly foundation is
not known. Despite there are not any clues that it was existing
in the Medieval Age, it is known that it was used as a harbor by
Pontus people escaping from conflicts between feudal lords and
the population was increased in the 17th and 18th century.
In the 19th century that region was under the dominance of
tyrant feudal lords and the natural structure and location of
Santa, as being a separate and safe harbor, had helped the
Christian society to continue their existence. In Santa, besides
agriculture and livestock breeding, the lead and iron mines were
operated and ironworking is still an important business.
This region is surrounded by Ziyaret and Karakaban Mountains,
Zincirli, church and Uzunsırt mountain peaks, all of which are
over 2 thousand meters and the only way to enter the region is
the south part that has an opening to the valley. Here is closed
to outside but habitable and convenient to live with its water
supplies and rich soil. Santa was established on 3 different
slopes of a mountain that can see each other with bird’s eye
view clearly. The city consists of 7 neighborhoods. The original
names of these neighborhoods are Piştoflu, Binatlı, İhsanlı,
Zerzili, Çakallı, Zincanlı, and Zurnacılı. Especially the
governmental buildings that were established in the second half
of the 18th century are attractive.
Satala Ancient City (Sadak Village)
It is in Sadak
Village that is 17 kms away from Kelkit town. After the brick
pieces that carry the sign of XV. Legio Apollinaris were found,
it was understood that this place was the city of Satala.
Byzantium historian Prokopius states that the city was
established on a plain ground that was surrounded by mountains
and Emperor Iustinianus had made the city walls repair. The city
of Satala was established and developed around of Roman Legion
Camp and it had been the center Latin culture during the Roman
Empire era. Satala Castle, aqueducts, theatre, agora and other
city ruins can be seen. It is known that Satala Castle had seen
a restoration in Byzantium Emperor Iustinianus era.
Imera Monastery
Olucak (Imera)
Monastery is 38 kms away from the city Centrum and it is inside
the borders of Olucak Village. There is a monastery with a dome
in the ancient city and its dome was surrounded by arc barrels.
It is understood from its inscription that it was established in
1350. The ancient city that contains numerous historical and
cultural values was declared as an archeological site.
Süleymaniye(Ancient
cities)
It had been a
settlement for ancient times and constituted a mosaic of ethnic
groups. Gumushane was established in BC 3000.
It is sitauted
4 km southwest of today's city center. Kanuni Sultan Suleyman
had 50 hauses and a mosgue constructed on the Silk Road during
the invasion of Egypt in 1553. Since there is plenty of silver
mine, it was named as Gumushane -the hause of silver- Its
population reached 60.000 .It seems like open air museum
Gumushane Houses
Main material to establish Gumushane houses are; stone, adobe,
and wood. In the architectural plan of the houses, there is a
inner court and there are building rows on both sides. The
ground floor of the building consists of a kitchen, bathroom,
restroom, cellar and other places used in daily life of the
households. The upper floor and garret are designed as bedroom
and guestrooms. The outside appearance of the houses is well
adapted with the natural landscape. They can be considered a
good example for today’s architecture.
Karaca Cave
Location and Arrival At is known, teh caves are first natural
shelters used by the human being.Therefore they attact the
attention of many researchers and force them to search. Moreover,
discoveries of the beauties and mystery in the caves make people
happy and peacefull.apart from this, the caves provide the
facilities for performing the exciting sports andbring about the
development of speleology which means the science of caves.Karaca
cave is surrounded by the border of Cebeli Village which is in
the totul Town. It is 17 km far away from the city center and
1550 m high from the sea level. the cave is the foremost
tourristic place in Gümüşhane. The cave can be arrived by
folliving the 4 km. road which is seperated from the 12 th km of
Gumushane - trabzon highway.This 4 km road is paved with asphalt
and has double band. So and eating facilities where the visitors
can meet all their needs are available near the cave.
Tomara Fall
The fall is
inside the Seydibaba Village which is 25kms way from the Şiran
town Centrum.
Tomara Fall comes through an opening that has a width of 15-20
meters and falls from a height of 20-25 meters creating water
foams that have the color of milk and its voice like a lullaby
can be heard from 2 kms away. The countercurrent swirling that
is formed inside the flowing valley of the water and its flowing
regime makes the valley an important rafting area that has
potential. The fall and its natural landscape fully adapted with
the rich flora is worth for seeing.
Akcakale Cave
It is at
the east and 10 kms away from the city Centrum. The cave is
inside the borders of Arsa District of Akcakale Village.
Akcakale Cave was found in 1996 and its altitude is 1585m. There
is a height difference of 95 meters between the opening and the
deepest place of the cave. Specific stalactites and stalagmites
constitute very nice scenes.
Rug with bell
“Because when
giving color to threads constituting the rugs with bells, no
chemical materials are used, no fading can occur on the colors
of the rugs”. Some of the plant roots that are used as dyeing
material are supplied from Kelkit region and some of them are
supplied from other cities. Daisy, onion, blackberry, snowberry,
kale, raspberry, bonito, sage, chestnut, mint, sour apple, wild
grapes, and nut shell are among the numerous materials that are
used for production of the madder as coloring element.
The rug with bells came to Anatolia after settlement of Seldjuks
to Erzurum, Erzincan and Kelkit region in 1058. The rugs with
bells, including its warp threads, are totally produced by sheep
wool. In old Turkish tradition the kinds of the rug with bells
are rug, carpet, cecim, felt, prayer rug, cerge, sili and zilu.
The threads of rug with bells are totally hand spinned and hand
knitted: After this they are boiled with root dyes and the
liveliness of its colors are coming from that style. The main
motifs that are used on the rug with bells are, “kara nakış”,
“kurbağacık”, “eğri zincir”, “ger”, “beşfırlam”, “çerçeve”,
“boncuk gözler”, “elmalar”.
Rafting
Besides the Hursit Stream has a potential for canoeing and
rafting sports, because it is flowing through the city center
people are coming from various places to watch it. Gumushane
Governorship will establish some barriers over the stream and by
this way the canoeing and rafting competitions that are
organized in various places of Turkey will be also invited to
Hursit Stream.
The Hursit Stream, that is the most rapid flowing stream of
Turkey, is coming from the sources at Cimli, Karabakan and
Kostan mountains. It collects the waters of Tezene basin
(214km2) and flows from east-northeast direction through
Gumushane city Centrum. Then it separates into two arms that are
named Korum (221km2) and Kodil (456km2) and enters the Kurtun
pass like Kurtun (Manastır) (408km2) and Doğankent (Kavraz)
(128km2) Streams. The surface drainage of it is 3280km2 and the
average flow of it is 1,132,106m3. Its water collecting surface
then decreases and its travel of 145 kms length ends at Black
Sea, at the eastern part of Tirebolu.
Gumushane Zigana
Zigan Ski Center is inside the Black Sea Region and Gumushane
city borders.
Transportation
Ski center is 40 kms away from Gumuşhane and 60 kms away from
Trabzon.
It is at the east side of the Zigana Passage and 500 meters away
from the main road. It can be accessed from the city center to
the ski center by using private cars and by bus.
Its Geography
Ski center is inside the forests and skiing areas are at the
height of 1900-2500 meters and generally covered by grass.
Skiing season begins at December and goes on until April. Snow
thickness is 100-150 cms.
Accommodation and Other Services
There is a Ski House in the Ski Center and also there are
facilities for daily usage.
Mechanical Facilities and Skiing Pist
There is a teleski and a Baby-Lift facility in the Ski Center.
The length of the facility is 661 meters and its capacity is 843
persons/hour. The width of the skiing pist is 100-200 meters and
its average gradient is 20%.
All information, documents, and pictures on this web site are the property of
Cimenler Hotel, so they cannot be used or published without prior permission
