Tirebolu Selimağa Fountain in Giresun, Türkiye is a free-to-visit cut-stone Ottoman fountain built in 1842, featuring a square plan with pointed-arched niches and Arabic inscription.
Selimağa Fountain stands in Tirebolu's Çarşı District, right in the midst of the town's daily life. According to its inscription, it was built by Kethüdazade Emin Ağa on June 10, 1842, but over time it became known among the public as the Selim Ağa Fountain. It is made of cut stone, has a square plan and two facades; the niches on both facades are pointed arched. Inside the niche facing the front facade, there is a four-line Arabic inscription, written in Thuluth script on marble.
The structure was registered by the Trabzon Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in 2001. There are a few other Late Ottoman period fountains of this type in Tirebolu: Çatal Fountain, Gacan Fountain, Siyamoğlu Fountain. But Selimağa is the most easily accessible due to its proximity to the town center. It is a quiet, secluded stop for those who enjoy taking photos. It can be added as a five-minute break to a visit to Tirebolu Castle or Bedrama Castle.
Guide's Note
Best Time to Visit
As it is an open-air structure, it can be seen at any time of the year. To appreciate the details of the inscription and the stone craftsmanship, choose the spring-summer months when there is plenty of daylight, preferably in the afternoon. In winter, the rainy weather of the Black Sea region may make photography difficult.
How to Get There
Tirebolu is a district 42 km from Giresun city center, located on the coastal road. You can reach the district center by your own car or by minibuses departing from Giresun. The fountain is on Amiral Şükrü Okan Street, within the Çarşı District. It is a few minutes' walk from the district center.
What to See in Tirebolu Center
Near the fountain is Tirebolu Castle, and a little further, 5 km from the district center, is Bedrama Castle. Tirebolu is known for its Late Ottoman period fountains; Çatal Fountain, Gacan Fountain, and Siyamoğlu Fountain are also among the structures from the same period. You can see several of these fountains consecutively on a half-day walking route.
How Much Time to Allocate
The fountain itself can be explored in 10-15 minutes. But if you want to see Tirebolu as a whole, including the castles, coast, and bazaar, half a day is sufficient. It can also be added as a one-day extension to a Giresun city center tour.
Suggested Route
Start your morning at Tirebolu Castle and descend to Çarşı District around noon to see Selimağa Fountain. In the afternoon, you can move on to Bedrama Castle or spend time along the coastline. If time permits, also visit other historical fountains like Gacan or Siyamoğlu.
Photography Tip
For close-up shots of the niche and inscription on the front facade of the fountain, prefer the afternoon hours; the shadows on the stone surface highlight the reliefs. Since it is a two-facade structure, shots can also be taken from different angles.
Things to Note
The structure is a registered cultural asset; visit without damaging the stones and inscription. There may not be any special arrangements or information panels around it. Reading about the structure's history beforehand makes the visit more meaningful.
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