The madrasas (Islamic schools) and hans (Ottoman inns) built during the 12th-13th centuries during Selcuk rule are well preserved and beautifully restored. These are among the oldest Islamic monuments in Anatolia. It was the Selcuks that defeated the Byzantines and installed Islam and more significantly, the Turkish language, in Anatolia. This tour of ours really made me realize that languages tend to endure conquests much better than religions.
There were good views of Mount Erciyes (12,848 feet) on the bus from Goreme to Sivas.
Walking down the street in city center Sivas.
Çifte Minareli Medrese
Gök Medrese
Buruciye Medresesi - Now, a very popular cafe. We were very surprised to see quite a few women smoking cigarettes in these outdoor cafes - many in hijab.
Sifaiye Madrasah - Another busy cafe.
Sivas City Hall.
Taşhan (17th Century Ottoman Inn)
Dinner at Cadde, a new cig kofte (1st below, left) eatery where the pomegranate sauce (2nd below) makes the cig kofte lettuce rolls great. Cig kofte is finely ground bulgur wih tomato, spices and mint.
1 comment:
I haven’t heard of pomegranate sauce before- juice yes, sauce no.
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