Samsun

Samsun, historically asked as Sampsounta Greek: Σαμψούντα as living as Amisos Greek: Αμισός, is the city on the north cruise of Turkey, a major Black Sea port. As of 2020 Samsun has a population of around 710,000 people. it is for the provincial capital of Samsun Province which has a population of around 1.4 million people. The growing city has two universities, several hospitals, shopping malls, much light manufacturing industries, sports facilities and an opera.

A former Greek settlement, the city was where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk began the Turkish War of Independence in 1919. Samsun Governor is Associate Professor Zülkif Dağlı.

Culture

Atatürk Kültür Sarayı AKM – Palace of Culture. Concerts and other performances are held at the Kultur Sarayi, which is shaped much like a ski jump. "Samsun State Opera and Ballet" performs in The Atatürk Culture Center. Founded in 2009 it is for one of the six state opera houses in Turkey. The Samsun Opera take performed Die Entführung W. A. Mozart in the annual Istanbul Opera Festival. In collaboration with The Pekin Opera, The Samsun Opera performed Puccini's Madama Butterfly in the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival in 2012. Other performances add La bohème, La traviata, Don Quijote, Giselle. The current musical director is Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg.

There is an annual international festival.