# 80-Million-Year-Old Natural Wonder: Guzelcehisar Lava Columns, Amasra Castle and Cesm-i Cihan Salad
Embraced by the emerald green slopes of the Western Black Sea and its turquoise bays, Bartin and the fairy-tale coastal town of Amasra represent one of Turkey's most enchanting cultural and geological journeys. When Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II looked upon Amasra during his conquest in 1460, he famously exclaimed in pure awe: "Lala, Lala! Could this be the Eye of the World (Cesm-i Cihan)?" Amasra has stood resilient through millennia, framed by two natural twin harbors, Roman stone bridges, and Genoese fortress bastions.
In this comprehensive travel guide, discover the 80-million-year-old Guzelcehisar Lava Columns—a rare geological marvel shared with Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and Staffa in Scotland—along with the ancient rock-carved Kuskayasi Road Monument, the artisan woodcarving alleys of Cekiciler Bazaar, and the world-renowned 27-ingredient Amasra Salad.
1. Deep History & Geological Origins: From Cretaceous Basalt to the Eye of the World
The coastline of Bartin preserves rare basalt prisms formed during the Late Cretaceous epoch (roughly 80 million years ago) when undersea volcanic eruptions rapidly cooled upon contact with cold waters. The Guzelcehisar Lava Columns rise vertically between 50 and 100 meters above sea level, standing like an ancient geometric stone forest sculpted by Mother Nature.
Originally settled under the ancient name "Sesamos," the town flourished in the 3rd century BC as an independent city-state ruled by Persian Queen Amastris. During the Roman, Byzantine, and Genoese eras, Amasra served as a pivotal trading fortress across the Black Sea. When Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror arrived in 1460, the Genoese commander peacefully surrendered the keys to the castle without shedding a single drop of blood.
2. Detailed 2-Day Itinerary & Explorations
Day 1: Guzelcehisar Geosites, Inkumu Beach & Amasra Arrival
- 09:00 - 11:30 | Guzelcehisar Lava Columns & Coastal Wooden Trail: Begin in Guzelcehisar village, 17 km from Bartin city center. Walk the 850-meter elevated wooden boardwalk running along the sandy shore to photograph the 80-million-year-old basalt columns rising sheer from the sea.
- 12:00 - 13:30 | Inkumu Beach Promenade: Explore the 3-kilometer golden sands of Inkumu Beach, wedged dramatically between lush pine mountains and the Black Sea, stopping for freshly brewed Turkish coffee by the shore.
- 14:00 - 15:30 | Kuskayasi Road Monument: En route to Amasra, stop at the 2,000-year-old Roman rock relief commissioned by Gaius Julius Aquila in honor of Emperor Claudius, featuring an eagle and soldier carving carved into living limestone.
- 16:00 - 18:30 | Kemere Bridge & Boztepe Hill Sunset: Arrive in Amasra. Cross the Roman stone-arched Kemere Bridge linking the mainland to Boztepe Island. Ascend to the Weeping Tree (Aglayan Agac) cafe to sip tea while watching the sun sink behind Rabbit Island.
Day 2: Amasra Castle, Ancient Heritage, Wood Bazaar & Gastronomy
- 09:30 - 11:30 | Amasra Castle & Genoese Crests: Traverse Zindan and Sormagir castle ramparts. Examine Genoese family coats of arms carved into stone lintels and recycled Roman marble friezes.
- 11:30 - 12:30 | Amasra Fatih Mosque: Visit the 9th-century Byzantine church converted into a mosque following the 1460 conquest, preserving the rare tradition where the imam delivers the Friday sermon brandishing an unsheathed sword.
- 13:00 - 14:30 | Legendary Amasra Seafood & Salad Feast: Dine at waterfront seafood restaurants in the Kucuk Liman (Small Harbor). Savor freshly caught red mullet or turbot alongside the iconic Amasra Salad, decorated with up to 27 garden-fresh vegetables and herbs.
- 15:00 - 16:30 | Cekiciler Artisans Bazaar: Stroll through narrow cobblestone alleys where master woodcarvers shape boxwood and linden wood into traditional spoons, salad bowls, and handcrafted souvenirs.
- 16:45 - 18:00 | Roman Bedesten & Bartin City Museum: Complete your journey by visiting the ruins of the Roman Provincial Senate Hall (Bedesten) and the Bartin City Museum housed in the historical 1885 Ottoman administrative hall.
3. Transportation, Road Status & Public Transit
- Driving Routes:
* Istanbul to Amasra: 430 km via the Anatolian Motorway (O-4) passing Bolu, Yenicaga, Mengen, Bartin, and Amasra (approx. 5 hours).
* Ankara to Amasra: 310 km via the Gerede interchange toward Karabuk or Bartin (approx. 3.5 hours).
* Bartin to Amasra: 16 km via a modern divided highway through the Amasra Tunnel (approx. 20 minutes).
- Public Transportation:
* Cooperative shuttle minibuses depart every 15 minutes between the Bartin Intercity Bus Terminal and Amasra harbor.
* Local village dolmus buses to Guzelcehisar depart from the Yali district in central Bartin.
4. Top Photography Spots & Lighting Advice
- Guzelcehisar Boardwalk: Morning hours (08:00 - 10:00) provide optimal eastern light illuminating the vertical hexagonal basalt columns against the crashing waves.
- Kemere Bridge & Boztepe Island: Capture the sunset during the golden hour (17:30 - 19:00) as excursion fishing boats sail beneath the ancient stone arch.
- Kuskayasi Road Monument: Soft morning light filtering through dense pine canopy reveals crisp details on the Roman imperial eagle and warrior reliefs.
5. Local Gastronomy: What and Where to Eat
- Certified Amasra Salad: Featuring at least 27 hand-selected ingredients including watercress, wild sorrel, radishes, purple cabbage, pickled beets, dill, and garden lettuce, arranged like an edible bouquet and dressed with artisanal apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
- Fresh Black Sea Seafood: Savor seasonal crisp pan-fried red mullet (barbun), whiting (mezgit), anchovy (hamsi), and turbot (kalkan) caught daily by local trawlers.
- Water Buffalo Yogurt with Wild Honey & Hazelnuts: Finish your meal with rich, thick traditional buffalo milk yogurt topped with raw chestnut forest honey and roasted regional hazelnuts.
