Sinop

Situated on the northern edge of the Turkish peninsula, Sinop belongs to the Black Sea region of Turkey. Its short peninsula stretching through the mountains, and its friendly people, it is known as the city of peace in Turkey. It is one of the most beautiful coastal harbour towns in Turkey, and you can often find locals fishing from the black sea rich in resources.

With a population of over 93,000 people, Sinop is a small natural harbour town, and home to many unique cultural aspects that have developed over the centuries. The city’s name is derived from Greek mythology, the daughter of the river god Asope was called Sinope. Another theory is that the name derives from the queen of the Amazons who was called Sinova. Sinop connects the peninsula of Boztepe to the mainland of Turkey and was throughout Antiquity a major port protected by a large wall and castle which are today in ruins.

The ancient Greek history of the first settlements which created the foundations of modern-day Sinop were said to be laid by the friend of the hero Hercules, who’s name was Autolycus. Sinop was destroyed and rebuilt many times, once by the wondering armies of the Cimmerians, rebuilt by the Milesian colony. It managed to compete with Samsun which is today the biggest port on the Blacksea, however, these two port towns were in heavy competition for centuries.

Sinop is famous for many specialities, including wood carvings, high-quality crystals from the surrounding mountains and quarries, and cotton wool. Sinop is surrounded by mountains and dense forests, and this natural part of Turkey employs the majority of the population in the Agricultural sector, growing crops like Tobacco, Flax seeds and corn. You can head into town for a lovely dinner at the fish restaurants. There is also a Fjord in the country called Hamsilos Koyu which is the only one of its kind in Turkey.