Taflanaltı Colorful Street

Taflanaltı Street, located within the boundaries of Yeniköy Neighborhood in the Tirebolu district of Giresun, has acquired tourist value as a result of coloring and environmental improvement initiatives led by local residents. The area, situated in the center known as "Old Tirebolu," preserves the historical fabric of Tirebolu, which according to sources was established in 656 BCE and is among the oldest settlements in the Eastern Black Sea region.^【1】 The street and its surroundings are enclosed by historical buildings constructed primarily from wood and exhibiting regional architectural characteristics.

^{Taflanaltı Renkli Sokağı} (Anadolu Ajansı)

The physical transformation of the street was initiated in July 2020 as a neighborhood initiative under the leadership of Yeniköy Neighborhood Head Osman Altay, without direct involvement from any official institution.^【2】 No external influences guided the planning phase; instead, actions were based on collective community ideas. In the first phase, the exteriors of 17 historical two- to three-story houses were painted in their existing conditions without structural restoration. The ground level was also painted blue to ensure visual harmony. Local residents provided both financial support and labor for this process.

The design of the area known as "Taflanaltı Colorful Street" emphasizes the use of local materials and recycling-based practices. The walls of the street, reminiscent of an open-air museum, are adorned with seashells, pinecones, and old photographs of Tirebolu that reflect the district’s geographical and cultural identity. Tree roots collected from the shoreline are used as decorative elements to raise environmental awareness, while old shoes and vehicle tires have been repurposed as planters for vegetation. These interventions are complemented by various phrases painted on the walls of the houses.

^{Taflantılı Sokağı} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Following the initial phase of the project, criticism regarding the limited scope of the area prompted a collaboration between the local administration and the neighborhood head to develop an expansion plan. With support from Tirebolu Municipality, the number of painted houses was first increased to 30, with a short-term goal of reaching 55.^【4】 This concept is planned to be extended to Yeni Street, Kuyubaşı Street, Salih Bora Street, and Fatih Street, aiming to integrate a total of five streets. These efforts seek to extend visitor停留 time to 30–35 minutes and to create recreational areas along with tea, coffee, and souvenir sales points. Additionally, official naming and signage work will be completed following the integration of the new streets.

^{Taflanaltı Renkli Sokağı} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Following its physical transformation, Taflanaltı Colorful Street gained visibility through social media and has attracted attention in regional tourism. The area, with its colorful architecture and historical fabric, functions naturally as a photographic setting and has been visited by prominent figures such as former State Minister Kürşat Tüzmen and technical director Şenol Güneş.^【5】 This initiative holds potential similar to examples such as Safranbolu and Beypazarı in terms of revitalizing historically significant areas for tourism and is regarded as a model for projects that could be implemented with funding from institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.