About Rize, Places to visit in Rize, Turkey History

Surface researches, made in Rize and its surrounding, show that first settlements here date back prehistoric ages. Cimmerians come to the region in B.C. 8th Century. Rize city is established by Miletians colonies, who come here in the middle of B.C. 8th Century for the first time. Rize and the region, in which it is located, enter under rule of firstly Medians in B.C. 333, Kingdom of Pontus in B.C. 280, Roman Empire in B.C. 63, Eastern Roman Empire in 395. City, which is exposed to Arabian invasions in 7th Century, remains under boundaries of Trabzon Greek (Roman) Empire, established in 1204. It is included into Ottoman lands by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in 1461. Name of city is used as Rizaion (in Latin writing, as Rhizaion) in Byzantine age. “Riza-ion” means “Place of Riza” in Greek language. Source of Rize name must be this word. After castle, which is located here in advance, is destroyed due to war and natural conditions, Rize Castle is constructed again on foundations of this old castle by Genoesians between 1314-1330. Castle is composed of two sections as Citadel and Lower Castle. Lower Castle is destroyed substantially. Islam Pasha Mosque, which is constructed during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim at the beginning of 16th Century, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, constructed by the order of Cafer Pasha Mosque, constructed by the order of Cafer Pasha, are some of the other old structures, located in the city. House of Mehmet Mataracı, in which Mustafa Kemal stays while he is coming to Rize in September 17, 1924, is restored and used as Ataturk house and Ethnography Museum. Some articles, belonging to Ataturk and local ethnographic works are exhibited in the musuem. Furthermore, there are a lot of uplands within boundaries of Rize province. Anzar (Ballıköy), Çağırankaya, Palovit, Ayder, Apivanak Uplands are some of them. Kaçkar Mountains are among the importat sightseeing places.