Sivas between Seljuk Art and Republican History

Sivas combines Seljuk architecture with the history of the Republic and museum collections from different periods. This offers a mix of architecture, historical events, archaeological finds, crafts, and nature to help you plan your trip.

Architecture and History

Sivas’s Historic City Square is home to buildings from the Seljuk, Ottoman, and Republican eras. The Gök Medrese is one of the most important monumental works of Seljuk art. Its turquoise tiles were so distinctive that they gave the medrese its name: they are located in the prayer hall to the right of the entrance iwan and in the two side iwans.

The Atatürk and Congress Museum connects a pivotal chapter in national history with tangible exhibits. The 4 September Sivas Congress, which laid the foundations of the Republic, was held in the building. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his companions stayed there for a total of 108 days, from September 2 to December 18, 1919. During the most difficult days of the National Liberation Movement, it served as headquarters. Among other things, the museum displays congress minutes, a telegraph room, and the printing press used to print the İrade-i Milliye newspaper.

Museums and Their Collections

The Sivas Archaeology Museum opened to visitors on April 29, 2009, following restoration work on the former School of Arts building. Its archaeological finds section displays fossil-like remains dating back nine million years, as well as artifacts from the Chalcolithic period through the Ottoman era. The stonework section features Hittite inscriptions and reliefs, Roman sarcophagi, Seljuk and Ottoman gravestones, and inscriptions from historic buildings in Sivas. The museum’s collection thus encompasses both very early remains and stone artifacts from various periods.

Crafts, Cuisine, and Nature

The Sivas Zanaatkârlar Müzesi, located in Hamidiye Millet Garden in central Sivas, showcases traditional crafts associated with the Anatolian Ahilik tradition. At the Sivas Zanaatkârlar Çarşısı ve Müzesi, visitors can watch artisans at work and buy their products. For travelers interested in traditional skills, this offers a different way to experience the culture than through buildings and historical collections.

Regional cuisine can also be part of your trip: you can sample local food products at restaurants and cafés in central Sivas. Paşabahçe Mesire Alanı offers a scenic contrast. It is situated at a higher elevation than central Sivas and is characterized by flowing water, caves, waterfalls, and green vegetation. Visitors can picnic and take nature walks there. This means you can choose between cultural attractions and time spent in nature.

Plan Your Journey and Hotel Choice

Sivas is accessible by train from Ankara, Istanbul, Kayseri, and Kars. Check the specific connection before your trip. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: Would you like to focus on buildings and museums, explore crafts and regional cuisine, or plan walks and picnics in nature? Take your planned visits into account when choosing your hotel’s location so that your accommodation suits your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Divriği, Aşağıyıldızlı Köyü, Kartalkaya, Şarkışla, Kuruköprü Köyü, Zara, Akıncılar, Sivas, Fevziçakmak Mh.

For the regional travel overview: Turkey’s Black Sea Coast.