The Pearls of Turkey: Amasra

By Esranur Günel

Amasra is one of the pearls of Turkey. Located on the north west of Turkey, Amasra is a small and nice coastal town which attracts tourists for its cultural natural and historical treasures. It takes 4 hors drive from Istanbul and Ankara. The nearest airport is Kastamonu Airport (KFS) and it takes almost 3 hours drive. So, most visitors prefer driving from Istanbul and Ankara since there are also nice destinations to discover on the wat to Amasra such as Bolu and Safranbolu. Along its historical parts with authentic streets and shops, the city has also pure beaches to enjoy. Noe lt`s discover the pearls of Turkey Amasra.

History of Amasra

Amasra is originally known as Sesamos in the history. The city was used by the Phoenicians as a colony for commercial purposes after the Gasgas and Hittite domination. After a short period of Phoenician domination, the city was captured by sailors with Ionian colonization movements and it became an important commercial center of attraction for the entire Western Black Sea coast shortly.

Especially the rich forest products of the region (especially boxwood, acorn, chestnut) are the most important factor in the development of trade. Later, Asra has been an important city after 1940s with the establishment of Karabük Iron and Steel Factory since bureausrats and engineers started to visit Amasra for summer holiday.

After 1973, Amasra gradually turned its direction from tourism to mining. With this development, Amasra began to receive immigration from abroad and to experience new developments in its social and economic structure.

Today, Amasra is one of the attraction centers of the Western Black Sea Region with its unique natural beauties, unique bays, seafood, tree charm and historical places, offering glorious days for tourists.

Destinations to Visit in Amasra

Amasra Castle

Amasra Castle is a point where you can watch the city from a wide angle. The castle was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2013. It actually consists of two parts. The castle was actively used in city defense in many periods, including Roman, Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottoman.

Kemere Bridge

The Kemere Bridge is the bridge connecting the Boztepe region of Amasra to the mainland. Its history dates back to Roman times. The bridge offers people an unforgettable view. Moreover, when you are on the bridge, you feel like the protagonist of an authentic movie. Crying Çınar is also reached by passing through here.

Cekiciler Bazaar

Cekiciler Bazaar is the bazaar of Amasra, where you will find local handmade wooden goods from alder, linden, boxwood, ash, walnut and cherry trees. Its history dates back centuries, when the wood carving craft in the Ottoman Empire was widespread. This carving tradition continues to be kept alive in the shops around this bazaar and in the villages of Amasra. You can come across various products from boxwood spoons to salt shakers and spice holders, from trays to bowls.

Amasra Museum

Amasra Museum used to be a Naval School building which was constructed in 1884 but remained unfinished. Later, this unfinished building was completed and put into service in 1982 when the need for a museum arose in Amasra,. The museum has four halls. In two of them, artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Genoese periods are exhibited. In the other two, there are ethnographic remains on life in Amasra during the Ottoman period.

Güzelcehisar Cliffs (Lava Rocks)

You can see 80 million years old lava rocks on the Güzelcehisar Cliffs. They are only 5 samples in the world.

Surfing

If you are interested, Amasra Sailing Club in the center of Big Harbor is the only place in Amasra where you can rent surfing, sailboats and canoes.

Great Harbor Beach

It is the biggest beach in walking distance of the city center. However, it might be so crowded during the summer and people prefer other beaches around such as Inkumu, Cakraz, Bozkok, and Akkonak beaches.

Discover the pearls of Turkey Amasra

If you want to discover one of the pearls of Turkey Amasra, you are welcome to get a free quotation from Sunnova Travel Advisors. You can customize a comprehensive tour to cover pearls of Turkey Amasra in the west Black Sea including Safranbolu and Bolu area.