Zeytinlik, Giresun

Overview

Just above the harbor of Giresun, a hillside of old stone and timber houses keeps the look of the port town of two centuries ago. This is Zeytinlik, the old quarter, once called Gogora. With a guide, join our Giresun and Şebinkarahisar tour.

The Story of Zeytinlik

Zeytinlik has about 80 registered houses built roughly 200 years ago. In 1991 the Trabzon regional conservation board registered it as an urban conservation area. The neighbourhood’s old church, built by the local Greek Orthodox community, became the Giresun Museum.

What to See in Zeytinlik

Walk slowly up the lanes and look at the doors, the bay windows and the stone ground floors. At the top, visit the museum in the old church, then come back down toward the sea for the sunset.

Why Is Giresun Named After Cherries?

The Greek name of the town was Kerasous, and the usual explanation ties it to the wild cherry that grows on these slopes. A second view links it to keras, the Greek word for horn. However, the houses of the quarter belong to a much later age. The church that now holds the Giresun Museum went up in the 19th century for the town’s Greek Orthodox community, and in the center a former Catholic church now serves as the Children’s Library.

Up to Giresun Castle

Then, above the quarter, Giresun Castle crowns the highest point of the peninsula, about 100 m (330 feet) above the sea, on a rock of volcanic stone. It has an inner and an outer castle, with palace remains in the inner one. Today, the hilltop is a picnic and viewing area. So you can walk up from the old lanes, or take a kale dolmuşu, the castle minibus, from the center.

Also, from the shore below the quarter, you can see Giresun Island, about 1.6 km (1 mile) off the center. Tour boats usually start running in June, and every year on May 20 the island hosts the Mayıs Yedisi ceremonies and the Aksu Festival. Then, back in the lanes, look for hazelnut paste: Giresun Fındık Ezmesi has been a registered geographical indication since 2020, and the Giresun Tombul hazelnut since 2001.

How to Visit Zeytinlik

Zeytinlik lies in the center of Giresun, a short walk from the harbor. From the shore, boats go to Giresun Island. We walk you through Zeytinlik on your Giresun day.

Would you like to see Giresun with someone who knows it from the inside? Our founder’s family lives in Giresun, so we plan a day on the coast, a boat to the island and, in August, a visit during the hazelnut harvest. Zeytinlik is part of our Black Sea tour, and our tailor-made trips add a day in the old quarter; more is in our Giresun guide.