Sivas, Turkey

Capital City

Living in Sivas, Turkey means grappling with a population of just 221,512 and a heavy bureaucratic burden. The city, situated at an elevation of 1,278 meters, experiences a continental climate with warm, dry summers and frigid, snowy winters. Despite historical significance as a Silk Road trading hub, Sivas today is primarily an industrial center, known for manufacturing rugs, bricks, cement, and textiles. The Armenian and Greek Christian populations that once thrived here were decimated during the 20th century's ethnic cleansing. For those undaunted by the region's challenging climate and lingering sectarian tensions, Sivas may offer affordable living and access to Turkey's interior, but it is hardly a cosmopolitan oasis.