Ahead of being a matter of plain phonetics relating to an Electronics major, Samsun is the capital of its eponymous province and traditional capital of the Black Sea region of Turkey. Historians believe it to be the home of legendary Amazons and the place where the founder of Republic of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, waged the War of Independence in 1919 AD against the Allies. The Turkish city is preferred for its mosques and museums and also for a flavorsome bread called Pide that is an integral part of the city’s inhabitants on Sundays.
Pazar Mosque is Samsun’s oldest surviving mosque. It was built by the Ilkhanate Mongols in the 13th century and is a must visit both for its religious and historical significance. A nineteenth century mosque Valide or Büyük Mosque should also be paid a visit to. It was built as a mark of respect of the mother of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz, hence the name Valide (or mother in Ottoman Turkish). On the topic of museums, Samsun has its own share of kempt heritages. Central to them is the Archaeological and Atatürk Museum. It comprises of two distinctions: the archaeological part that displays ancient artifacts while the Ataturk section includes photographs of Kemal Ataturk‘s life and some of his personal belongings.