More info: Giresun is a city and seaport 200 km (124 miles) east of Samsun and 134 km (83 miles) west of Trabzon. It lies on the Black Sea coast in northeastern Turkey.
The city is founded near the ruins of a Byzantine fortress situated on a cliff overlooking the Black Sea. Just outside the harbour is Giresun Island which has ruins of a temple, built by the Amazons to whom the island is said to have once belonged.
Giresun is named after the Greek word for cherry ‘Kerasous’. In the ancient days, this city used to export cherries from its orchards to Europe. Now it is known for both its cherry and hazelnut production.
The Aksu festival is held in late May and celebrates the beginning of the good weather and a new growing period. It is a multicultural event involving various cultures of the area around the Black Sea and the people of countries including Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia.