Surroundings, Sivas

The remains of this Byzantine hermitage can be found in the mountains of the Yildiz Dagi, 120km/74mi northwest of Sivas. They lie on a slope facing the Yildiz Dagi volcano (2,537m/8,321ft) above the Bedohtunyazi valley.

About 10km/7mi west of the regional center of Gemerek and about 115km/71mi southwest of Sivas on the Kayseri road the Sahrukköprü crosses the Kizilirmak just south of the village of Karaözü. Nearby is the Sahruk Köprüsü Hani which is thought to be of Seljuk origins. An old route across the Bozok Yaylasi to Yozgat and Kirsehir starts here.

10km/7mi east of Sivas beneath and to the south of the Seyfibeli mountain pass (road to Erzincan; 1,300m/4,264ft), a now ruined "gorge bridge" with seven pointed arches crossed the Kizilirmak.

Tertiary Era limestone extends underground between Sivas in the west and the regional center of Imranli in the east and a karst landscape dominates the upper Kizilirmak for a distance of 100km/62mi, extending 10-20km/6-12mi on both sides. The river has cut its way through the layers of gypsum to create this wide valley and for over 100km/62mi it flows mainly through red sandstone, gypsum and marl. There are many tributaries which give the water a permanently dull red color, hence the name Kizilirmak ("red river"). The high levels of sodium and potassium compounds also give the water a bitter taste. The higher gypsum plateaux at about 1,550-1,650m/5,000-5,500ft are riddled with a dense network of dolines. The slopes close to the river abound with 50-100m/165ft-325ft wide and 30m/100ft deep funnels and craters with swallow holes (ponors). Uvalas and tiny poljes with shallow lakes and marshes have been created from larger dolines merging together.

Near the village of Hanli a short distance to the southwest of the administrative center of Kayadibi (50km/31mi southwest of Sivas) stands the Seljuk caravanserai known as Latif Hani.

About 11km/7mi northeast of Kangal (90km/56mi southwest of Sivas) lie the Kavak thermal baths with a medicinal spring and an abundance of fish (Balikli Kaplica).

This many-arched "mutilated" bridge about 8km/5mi to the west of Sivas crosses the Kizilirmak before the river cuts through to the south. It marks the point where the old caravan route headed across the karst Yassibel pass (1,570m/5,150ft) to Kayseri.

80km/50mi southwest of Sivas the road to Kayseri passes the regional center of Sarkisla, which has become famous as the birthplace and home of the greatest Turkish popular poet of modern times Asik Veysel (1894-1971). He was born near the town to a poor peasant family and is also buried here. He was left blind at an early age, but still mastered the "saz", an Anatolian stringed instrument. He composed and wrote the lyrics of songs which had an element of social comment and which reflected his own background and the world of the poor Anatolian farmer.

On the Cermik Suyu some 18km/11mi northeast of Sivas lies the small resort of Sogukçermik with a thermal bath, an indoor pool, and a hotel.

Formerly known as Yenihan after a 14th century caravanserai (restored in the 17th century but now ruined) the town lies about 70km/43mi west of Sivas. The single rooms of the old three-aisled caravanserai can still be seen in the central aisle with colonnaded halls along both side aisles. According to an inscription on the neighboring mosque it was built by Abu Sayid Bahadur Khan.Another caravanserai (Saray Hani) can be found 20km/12mi to the south of the town on the Sivas road.