Trabzon Museum (Kostaki Mansion)
About This Museum
Perched on a hillside in Trabzon's historic Gazipaşa neighborhood, the Kostaki Mansion commands attention with its wedding-cake white facade. Stepping inside feels less like entering a standard museum and more like wandering through the opulent, slightly eccentric home of a bygone elite. Sunlight streams through stained glass, illuminating rooms where Ottoman-era weaponry sits alongside delicate Pontic-era gold jewelry. The real magic is in the juxtaposition: you can admire a 19th-century handwritten Koran in one room and then peek into a meticulously recreated Black Sea village living space in the next.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the hauntingly beautiful Byzantine icons or the extensive coin collection that traces local history through currency. The ethnographic floor is particularly vivid, with mannequins dressed in traditional Laz and Hemşin costumes, their vibrant colors telling stories of the region's diverse cultural fabric.
Visitor Information
It's centrally located on Zeytinlik Caddesi, an easy walk from other city landmarks. Check local listings for opening hours as they can vary seasonally, but plan for a small entrance fee.
Architecture & Building
A flamboyant example of late Ottoman Baroque architecture, the mansion is a spectacle of ornate stucco work, soaring columns, and whimsical decorative elements that blur the line between a palace and a private home.
Contact & Location
Address: Trabzon - Gümüşhane Yolu, Merkez, Çağlayan, Ortahisar, Trabzon, Karadeniz Bölgesi, Türkiye
Phone: +90 462 322 38 22
Website: Visit Website
