Sivas is a historic city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, renowned for its magnificent Seljuk-era architecture and its pivotal role in Turkish national history. Home to the Sivas Congress of 1919 — a critical event in the founding of the Turkish Republic — the city preserves some of the finest medieval Islamic monuments in Anatolia. The Buruciye, Çifte Minareli, Gök, and Şifaiye madrasas cluster in the city centre, while Divriği's UNESCO-listed Great Mosque lies within the province. At 1,285 metres elevation on the Central Anatolian plateau, Sivas offers an authentic, crowd-free alternative to Turkey's tourist-heavy western cities.
Best photo spots
Iconic and lesser-known locations worth shooting.
Şifaiye Medresesi Courtyard
Best time: 07:00–09:00 (golden hour) or 16:00–18:00 (warm afternoon light)
Çifte Minareli Medrese Portal
Best time: Late afternoon (15:00–18:00) when sunlight strikes the twin minarets from the west
Tecer Lake Sunrise Reflection
Best time: Sunrise (05:30–07:00 in summer) for mirror reflections of surrounding hills
Divriği Great Mosque Portal Detail
Best time: 10:00–13:00 when direct sunlight illuminates the portal carvings
Sivas Covered Bazaar Interior
Best time: 09:00–11:00 for shaft-of-light through skylights; weekday for fewer crowds
Cumhuriyet Meydanı Evening Life
Best time: 19:00–21:00 — families stroll, tea vendors circulate, lights come on
Kangal Fish Spa Pools
Best time: Morning 08:00–10:00 (before crowds; steam rising from warm water)
Kızılırmak Valley Autumn Colour
Best time: 07:00–09:00 (morning light on poplar and willow foliage)
By subject
Match your shooting interest to Sivas's strengths.
Items photography
Best times to shoot
Light, weather, and seasonal considerations.
Photography tips
Make your shots stand out.
Ask permission (using gestures or 'fotoğraf çekebilir miyim?' — 'May I take a photo?') before photographing people, especially in the bazaar and near mosques
Photography inside mosques is allowed when no prayer is in progress, but remain discreet and avoid flash
The Divriği portal is best photographed at midday — the carvings are deeply undercut and need direct light to reveal their 3D texture
Bring a microfibre cloth — the Tecer Lake shore at dawn can be dewy; protect lenses