I came across this museum not expecting much, but it turned out to be the best 3 lira I've spent in Trabzon. Beautiful foyer and interesting artifacts, coupled with the Aya Sophia, it made for a great afternoon.
Nearby the famous meydan. Trabzon museum have a lot of ancient displays from different eras and empires (helinistic, byzantine,ottoman..) you ll see alot of terra cotas,bracelets, rings,coins,seals..) what nice about this museum is they give you an easy simple short explanation on different subjects (history of trabzon, what is a coin, christian icons, bracelets use..) there is an interesting statue and information about hermes (the messenger of gods) nd more nd more info and displays..i reccomend visiting the well rounded museum instead of buying a pide or an adana durum!!
As you find frequently in Turkey Churches seem to be transformed into mosques and vice versa. The wall paintings are incomplete but still impressive, remarkable to see a version of the Last Supper and other incidents from the Christian Bible. Wear study shoes as it is a site not suited to flip flops or for anyone with an impaired ability to walk.
Located in the middle of the pedestrianized shopping center of Trabzon and encircled by higher buildings full of neon shop signs, this building represents one of the few early 20th century houses that have managed to survive Turkish urban planners' building rush. And with good reason: once it belonged to a rich Greek banking family and represents a good exemple of Black Sea villa style with well preserved interiors. If only the garden surrounding it was bigger in order to create a distance between it and modern non descript constructions all around!Do visit this museum not for the sake of the exhibits it houses (similar ones you can see in many local museums all around Turkey - ethnografic collection is on the first floor, while the archeological one is located in the basement and has a separate entrance to the left of the main staircase), but for the sake of the building itself. If you have liked it, don't forget to visit Ataturk Kosk, an even grander villa from the same period.
This museum is well worth your time! We were in a pre-arranged group and while it appeared there was not an entry fee, I don't know. The grounds are beautiful as is the view from both inside and outside.
We went to the museum on Sat 13th July 2013 , when Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor reported that it was open. It is meant to close on Mondays . The taxi driver could not establish why it was closed , but we found in Turkey over 3 weeks that quite alot of tourist attractions were closed for renovations, so always best to check locally if you can.
The Trabzon museum does not offer that much in terms of artifacts and other items on display and the atmosphere is a bit dreary as the lighting is bad. That said the building itself is beautiful and really shows you how the wealthy used to live. Ataturk stayed here during his visit to Trabzon and that fact alone encouraged me to visit. The archeological section in the basement is interressting and shows the rich history of the area. From Ataturk Square walk east and take the pedestrianized road till you see the Simit Saray restaurant and turn left and you will see the villa infront of you.
Fascinating vision of Greek 19thcentury life before the ethnic cleansing of 23. Basement has superb head of Hermes found in dig up near aghia sofia
A large villa still furnished much as it would have been by a wealthy family before the population exchange. Two floors of lovely rooms, with much older artefacts in the basement. And it's immediately opposite one of the best coffee shops we've been to in Turkey.The Museum (Muze) is closed on Mondays.
The museum is worth visiting to see how rich and famous once lived in Trabzon. The building it self is very nice although the display of artifacts are out of date and need tobe upgraded. The archeological pieces in the basement also gives the same boring feeling as a museum