Trabzon (see other names, ) is a city on the
Black Sea coast of northeastern
Turkey and the capital of
Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical
Silk Road, became a
melting pot of
religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to
Persia (Iran) in the southeast and the
Caucasus to the northeast. The
Venetian and
Genoese merchants paid visits to Trebizond during the medieval period and sold
silk,
linen and
woolen fabric; the Republic of Genoa had an important merchant colony within the city called
Leonkastron that played a role to Trebizond similar to the one
Galata played to
Constantinople (modern
Istanbul). Trabzon formed the basis of several states in its long history and was the capital city of the
Empire of Trebizond between
1204 and
1461. During the early modern period, Trabzon, because of the importance of its port, became a focal point of trade to Iran and the
Caucasus. The population of the urban center is 1,254,350 (2011 census).