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Sivas is located at the eastern part of the Central
Anatolian region of Turkey; it is the second largest province in
Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Yozgat to the west, Kayseri to the
southwest, Kahramanmaras to the south, Malatya to the southeast,
Erzincan to the east, Giresun to the northeast, and Ordu to the north.
The majority of Sivas Province shares the climate of the Central Anatolian Region in which the summer seasons are hot and dry while winter seasons are cold and snowy. However, the northern part of the province shares the Black Sea Climate while the eastern portion shares the climate of the Eastern Anatolian higher region.
This province is noted for its thermal springs.
History
The route of the Silk Road and the Persian Royal Road run through Sivas.
According to the written historical sources, the region of Sivas province was first inhabited during the period of the Hittite civilization by the beginning of 2000 BC and became an important settlement. The region then encountered the reign of Phrygian, Lydian, Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian, Danişment, Ilhanlı, Eretna and Ottoman civilizations.
The foundations of the modern Turkish Republic were laid in the Sivas Congress assembled on 4 September 1919, during the presidency of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, thus making the province of Sivas important to the history of the Turkish nation.
Sights
A cultural hub as well as an industrial one, Sivas features many monuments of 13th-century Seljuk architecture. Mavi Medrese from 1271, Şifaiye Medresesi from 1218 and the Çifte Minare Medresesi from 1271 with its intricately carved facade and minarets are among the most noteworthy edifices. The oldest mosque is the Great Mosque dating from the Turkmen era. Near Sivas lay the Armenian Christian monastery of the Holy Cross, with its royal throne and other relics. It is now entirely destroyed.
Ulu Camii (Mosque) completed in 1196, is famous for its simplicity and it is a showcase for the Seljuk Turks' architectural success. The city is also famous for its Medreses (Madrasa). Gök Medresesi (the Celestial Madrasa) and Mavi Medrese were built in 1271. On the other hand, Sifaiye Medresesi was completed earlier, in the eve of the second wave of Turkic immigration to Anatolia, in 1218 and the with its intricately carved facade and minarets are among the most noteworthy edifices carries on the traditional Seljuk Medrese plan.
The city also contains some of the finest examples of the Ottoman architectural style. Kurşunlu hamamı (bath) which was completed in 1576, is the largerst bath in the city and it contains many details from the classical Ottoman bath building. Behrampaşa Hanı (Caravansaray), was completed in 1573 and it is famous for its lion motives around its windows.
Atatürk Kongre ve Etnografya Müzesi (Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum) is a museum that is dedicated to the Sivas Congress and the ethnographic pieces special to the region.
Sivas is also famous for its thermal springs which have a respectable percentage in the city's income. People believe that the water of these thermal springs can cure many illnesses. The most famous thermal areas are, Sıcak Çermik, Soğuk Çermik and Kangal Balıklı Kaplıca.
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