Giresun is a Black Sea coastal city in northeastern Turkey, famous as the legendary homeland of the Amazons and the origin of the hazelnut known to the world as 'giresun fındığı'. Perched on a hillside above the sea, the city blends Byzantine and Ottoman history with lush green mountains and a thriving hazelnut-farming culture. The ancient Giresun Island — the only island on the entire Turkish Black Sea coast — lies just offshore and shelters the ruins of a Byzantine monastery.
Giresun's recorded history spans nearly three thousand years. The city's ancient name, Kerasos (Greek: Κερασοῦς), gave the world the word 'cherry' — the Roman general Lucullus reportedly brought cherry trees from Kerasos to Rome in 74 BC. The city was founded as a Greek Milesian colony around the 7th century BC on the promontory now occupied by the castle. The offshore island, known in antiquity as Aretias, was believed in Greek mythology to be the home of the Amazons, warrior women who tended a shrine to Ares. The Argonauts reportedly stopped here in the Jason myth. Byzantine rule brought the castle walls and the island monastery. The Seljuks, Comnenian Trapezuntine Empire, and ultimately the Ottomans (1461) each shaped the city's layers. Under Ottoman rule, the city was a significant tobacco and hazelnut trading port. After 1923 it became part of the Turkish Republic, growing as a provincial center and world-leading hazelnut producer.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Giresun.
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1
Greek Milesian colony of Kerasos founded on the Black Sea promontory
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2
Roman general Lucullus takes cherry trees from Kerasos to Italy; the Latin cerasum derives from Kerasos
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3
Castle walls and island monastery constructed; city prospers as a Black Sea port
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4
Under the Trapezuntine Empire of the Komnenoi; then falls to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1461
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5
Prosperous tobacco and hazelnut trade; Greek and Armenian communities flourish alongside Muslim majority
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6
Republic of Turkey established; population exchanges alter city demographics; city renamed Giresun
Historical eras
The chapters of Giresun's past.
Historical sites
Places where Giresun's past comes alive.
Giresun Castle (Byzantine-Ottoman Fortress)
Where: Tepe Mah., city center
Admission: 30 TRY (~$0.90 USD)
Giresun Museum (in former Greek Orthodox Church)
Where: City center
Admission: 50 TRY (~$1.50 USD); free with Müze Kart
Giresun Island Byzantine Monastery Ruins
Where: Giresun Island, 1 km offshore
Admission: Boat: ~100–150 TRY (~$3–4.50 USD); island access free
Tirebolu Castle (Tirebolu Kalesi)
Where: Tirebolu, 42 km west
Admission: Free or nominal entry
Yavuzkemal Village Ancient Church Ruins
Where: Yavuzkemal village, 30 km south
Admission: Free
Kerason Ancient Greek Settlement (Archaeological Zone)
Where: Old Town / harbor area
Admission: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Giresun's story.
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.