Pliny the Younger, when he was governor of Bithynia and Pontus, described '''Amastris''' in a letter to Trajan as a handsome city. Extant attractions include Amasra Castle, built during the Roman period; a fine medium-sized archaeological museum by the sea, with remains from both land and underwater; and the Bird's Rock road monument, about 4 km out of town, created between 41-54 AD by order of Bithynia et Pontus Governor, Gaius Julius Aquila, in honor of emperor Claudius.