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 souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Copper goods (coppersmith row) — hand-hammered trays, coffee sets, and decorative pots
Handwoven kilims — authentic Central Anatolian patterns at far lower prices than Istanbul
Sivas lokumu (Turkish delight) — local flavours including walnut and rose
Tarhana powder — dried soup base unique to Sivas; excellent cooking souvenir
Local honey — wildflower honey from the Sivas highlands sold in the bazaar and Saturday market
Sivas wool socks and mittens — handknitted by village women; sold in the bazaar
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Sivas Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
Copper goods, kilims, spices, dried foods, crafts
Hours: 09:00–19:00 Monday–Saturday
Cumartesi Pazarı (Saturday Market)
Fresh produce, farmers' goods, homemade jams
Hours: 07:00–14:00 Saturdays