Trabzon lies at the easternmost end of the Turkish Black Sea coast, not far from the border to Georgia.

The city was probably founded in the 7th century BC by Greek settlers. In the course of the centuries the rule over the city changed quite frequently between the Greeks, Romans, Goths, Seljuks, Mongols, Otomanes, Russians and finally the Turks.

In the 13th century the city became an important hub for trade between Russia, the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.

After the Greek-Turkish War of 1919-1922, the Greek part of the population was resettled to Greece.