GİRESUN MUSEUM
Accommodating archaeological and ethnographical riches of the city of Giresun, Giresun Museum is on the east trails of the castle, close to the sea. The building itself is ancient church called Gogora Church, built by local Greek people in the 18th century. The Church functioned until 1923; then, from 1948 to 1967, it served as a prison. The Church was restored between 1982 and 1988.

The Church displays a rectangular structure; the interior of the Church was built according to a hybrid plan that accommodates a basilica and a cross. Pale-coloured limestones used for the construction were brought from quarries around Giresun.

The entrance is on the western façade. Raised column profiles on either side of the entrance as well as the frontal piece are decorated with twisting columnlike figures. Two lines of rectangular and braided motifs run around the entrance. Other two entrances to the building feature twin columns and semi-columns. S-shaped pseudo-arch ends as well as adornments on the northern door are outstanding. One prominent figure in the southern door decoration is the bastion motif.

Gogora Church is divided by two lines of columns into three divisions. Each division is covered with a barrel vault. There are Ionian style columns heads on columns that display local features. Extending abscissas on either side of the main abscissa provide a dynamic frontal façade. Both the columns and supporting elements on main walls are made of dark coloured volcanic stone.

There are 12 windows on the high rimmed central dome of the Church. There is one Christ painting and four column paintings inside the Church.

To the north of the Church is a building called “Papaz Evi” (Priest’s Residence), which is believed to have been built at a later date. Attached to the western wall of Papaz Evi is the Cellar that consists of two divisions that run parallel. There are two fountains, one on the southern wall of the Church, and the other on the western wall of Papaz Evi. Today, Papaz Evi functions as the administrative unit of the Museum.

Collection of the Museum is exhibited in the historical church building and the cellar.

The oldest of all items exhibited in Giresun Museum dated back to 3.000 B.C. Museum collection mainly consists of items from Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. There are also earthenware figures and containers, architectural pieces, amphorae, coins, and findings from Erikliman excavations.

Ethnographical collection of the Museum consists of clothes, kitchen and bathroom elements, weapons, rugs and ornaments from the 19th century.