Province · Mar Negro Oriental

Gümüşhane

Mountains between the coast of Trebizonda and Anatolia, with the Karaca cave, the ruins of the village of Santa, the Tomara waterfall and pestil, a fruit confection.

In the photo: Ruins of Santa, village of Dumanlı, Gümüşhane

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Gümüşhane

Gümüşhane lies behind the mountains that separate the coast of Trebizonda from the interior, on the high valley of the Harşit River. The name means “house of silver,” a reminder of the mines that operated in the region, and the landscape consists of deep valleys, plateaus and forests.

The Karaca cave, in the Torul district, 17 km from the capital, has stalactites, stalagmites, columns and travertine steps. In Torul, a glass terrace next to the castle overlooks the valley, and Limni Lake sits among pine trees on the road to Mount Zigana.

In the village of Dumanlı, the ruins of Santa gather stone houses, churches, schools and fountains of a 17th-century Greek settlement, spread in neighborhoods along the slopes. In the Kromni valley there are other old churches, and the İmera monastery is near the capital.

In Şiran, the Tomara waterfall, known as Kırk Gözeler (Forty Eyes), falls from many points on the rock. In Kelkit are the remains of Satala, the base of a Roman legion on the eastern frontier of the empire. In Örümcek Ormanları, the Kürtün forest, very tall firs and spruces grow.

Typical products are pestil, a dried fruit sheet, and köme, walnuts or hazelnuts wrapped in grape syrup, sold in shops in the capital.

When to go

June to September is usually the season for trails, plateaus and the Tomara waterfall, which generally has more water in early summer. The Karaca cave usually opens in spring; check before you go. Winter is long and cold, with snow on the mountain passes, such as Zigana.

Getting there

The most used airport is Trebizonda (TZX), on the other side of the mountains, connected to Gümüşhane by the Zigana tunnel road. You can also arrive via Erzurum (ERZ). For Santa, Tomara and Karaca, a car is the most practical way to get there.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Gümüşhane

Which airport should I use for Gümüşhane?

Trebizonda (TZX) is the most commonly used; from there you continue by road through the Zigana tunnel, passing Torul. Erzurum is another option. Check whether there are flights to the regional Gümüşhane and Bayburt airports before booking.

Can you visit the Karaca cave from Trebizonda?

Yes. The cave is in Torul, on the road between Trebizonda and Gümüşhane, and the trip can be done in a day, combined with Limni Lake and Torul’s glass terrace. Confirm the cave’s opening period.

What are the ruins of Santa?

They are the remains of a 17th-century Greek settlement in the village of Dumanlı, with stone houses, churches, schools and fountains scattered across the slopes. Access is via a mountain road, easier from June to September.

What is Gümüşhane’s pestil?

It is a thin sheet of dried fruit, usually mulberry, sold in rolls or folded. It is often sold together with köme, walnuts or hazelnuts wrapped in grape syrup.