Rize is, 75 km east of Trabzon, is built on a mountain slope and
covered with tea bushes. The shoreline and hinterland possess myriad shades of
green. Rize is famous for its flora as there about 20 flowers unique to
the Rize area. The region is surrounded by mountains and forests. The inner
regions coming right to the shoreline, with mountains and plateaus, complete the
picture while traditional villages and plateau houses blend in with nature to
make an enriching contribution.
Tea is the symbol of Rize. Try the best blend of tea, at the
Summer Tea Festival, and taste the famous local Anzer honey, In the
city the 16th century Islam Pasha Mosque and the remains of a Genoese castle
worth also to be seen.
Uzungol, in the south of Rize, is an excellent camping
spot, at a lovely alpine lake, surrounded by mountains and meadows.The beautiful
little town of Camlihemsin is a perfect starting point for a trekking tour in
the Kackar Mountains.
Points of interest are also: Firtina Vadisi, with its
beautiful castle, Zirkale and bridges of Byzantine origin, Ayder with many hot
springs. Cayeli, Pazar and Ardesen are the other towns close to Rize with
typical Black Sea landscape.