Giresun Information
Giresun (Greek: Κερασούντα, Pharnacia, Choerades) is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey, about 175 km (109 mi) west of the city of Trabzon.
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Etymology
Giresun was known to the ancient Greeks as Choerades or Pharnacia and later as Kerasous or Cerasus, < Kerason < Kerasounta < Keras "horn" (for peninsula) in Greek + ounta, a Greek toponomical suffix.[1] The name later mutated into Kerasunt (sometimes written Kérasounde or Kerassunde).
The English word cherry, French cerise, Spanish cereza, and Southern Italian dialect cerasa (standard Italian ciliegia) all come from Classical Greek κερασός "cherry tree", which has been identified with Cerasus. The cherry was first exported to Europe from Cerasus in Roman times.
Geography
The surrounding region has a rich agriculture, growing most of Turkey's hazelnuts as well as walnuts, cherries, leather and timber, and the port of Giresun has long handled these products. The harbour was enlarged in the 1960s and the town is still a port and commercial centre for the surrounding districts, but Giresun is not large, basically one avenue of shops leading away from the port.
There is a beach, plenty of bars and in general a more relaxed attitude to alcohol (strictly beer and rakı) and dress code than in most places along the Black Sea coast, so at weekends you will find visitors from nearby Ordu and Trabzon in the bars and nightclubs. The town has high schools and hospitals, and Giresun University was founded in 2006 although it will take time to become properly established.
The cuisine represents typical Black Sea region dishes such as Mais Bread/Misir Ekmegi, Pancar Çorbası/Beet Soup, Beet Rice/Pancar Diblesi, Pezük Rice/Pezük Diblesi, and lots of dishes prepared with different local vegetables, anchovies (anchovy pie is the most famous one), Guymak [mais cooked in butter with cheese], etc. The local minced beef pide, is very popular and traditionally prepared for every Sunday brunch.
Like everywhere else on the Black Sea coast it rains (and often snows in winter) and is very humid throughout the year, with a lack of extreme temperatures both in summer and winter. As a result Giresun and the surrounding countryside is covered by luxuriant flora. As soon as you get beyond the city buildings you get into the hazelnut growing area and the high pastures (yayla) further in the mountains are gorgeous.
History
Pınarlar village, Giresun Aksu stream, GiresunGiresun's history goes back to the 2nd century BC, when it was founded by Greek colonists from Sinope. The name of the city is first cited in the book Anabasis by Xenophon as Kerasus. Historic records reveal that the city was dominated by the Miletians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Empire of Trebizond. The older parts of the city lie on a peninsula crowned by a ruined Byzantine fortress, sheltering the small natural harbour. Nearby is Giresun Island, in ancient times called Aretias, the only major Black Sea island in Turkish territory. According to legend, the island was sacred to the Amazons, who had dedicated a temple to the war god Ares here. Even today, fertility rites are performed here every May, now shrouded as a popular practice, but really a 4,000 year old celebration. During the medieval period Kerasunt was part of the Byzantine Empire and later the second city of the Empire of Trebizond. From 1244 onwards the Seljuk Turks moved into the area, pursued at times by the Mongol hordes until in 1461 the whole of this coast was brought within the Ottoman Empire by Sultan Mehmet II. She was shortly occupied by Emirate of Hacıemiroğlu (Emirate of Chalybia) between 1398-1400.
Places of interest
- The well preserved Giresun Castle in the city centre.
- Giresun Island – Turkey's only Black Sea island.
- Highlands (Kümbet, Bektaş, Kulakkaya)
International relations
Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in TurkeyTwin towns — Sister cities
Giresun is twinned with:
- Sagae, Japan (since June 25, 1988)
- Shaki, Azerbaijan (since March 12, 2001)[2]
See also
References
- ^ Özhan Öztürk. Karadeniz: Ansiklopedik Sözlük (Blacksea: Encyclopedic Dictionary). 2 Cilt (2 Volumes). Heyamola Publishing. Istanbul.2005 ISBN 975-6121-00-9
- ^ http://www.giresunum.com/xfsection+article.articleid+66.htm
External links
- Giresun culture and travel info
- Governor's official web site
- Giresun photos
- Görele photos
- Çanakçı kültür
- Radyo Görele
- Çanakçı haber
- Giresun Kültür Sitesi
- Giresun
Categories: Giresun Province | Cities in Turkey | Black Sea Region | Populated places in Giresun Province | Populated places established in the 2nd century BC | Black Sea port cities and towns in Turkey | Ancient Greek cities | Pontus
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