Giresun Fort

The fort is situated at the highest point of the peninsula dividing the town into two. It is very easily accessible both by car and by walking. It is believed that the fort was built by the Pontus King Farnakes 1st in the BC 2nd Century. The remains of the walls and the palace are still there. In various spots of the fort one can see man made stone caves and temple ruins. The Giresun Fort can be studied in two different segments: the interior and exterior parts of the fort. In the interior segment of the fort situated on the hill prevalent to the city one can see the remains of a palace. The walls of the fort that begins from the south west continue towards northeast at the same time encircling the city. Even though some parts of the remains of the wall built with large and cumbersome stones are still visible today, its condition is almost demolished. According to the writings of Neofitos, there is a relief of a small horse on the rocks situated in the west of the hill. It is said that this relief is actually found on the tomb of Ayios Ilyos. In the Byzantine writing found on the rocks below it’s mentioned that there was a church there. There are large caves on the north side of the island.