'Silk Road Rally' stops over at Sumela Monastery

The "Silk Road Rally," organized by Swiss vintage automobile club Classic Car Event, stopped over at Sumela Monastery in Turkey's northeast Trabzon province. Hans Burkhardt, head of Classic Car Event, told AA that the club had 70 vintage cars and the aim of the rally was to get to know various regions, countries and people from all around the world. The participators toured the monastry during the break and then set out towards Georgia.   The twelve thousand kilometre long rally commenced in Istanbul with the participation of 40 competitors and it will end in China after driving through Georgia, Russia, Kazakhistan and Tajikistan. Vintage car drivers, who will travel through 6 countries in 56 days, are accompanied with a proffesional team of mechanics in case of a breakdown during the rally. The Sumela Monastery is a site of great historical and cultural significance as well as a major tourist attraction located in the Macka region of Turkey's Trabzon province. Nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of about 1,200 metres, the Greek Orthodox monastery was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.