Şifaiye Medresesi

Top choice in Central Anatolia


Dating to 1218, this was one of the most important medical schools built by the Seljuks and was once Anatolia's foremost hospital.

The decoration features stylised sun/lion and moon/bull motifs, blue Azeri tile work and a poem in Arabic composed by the sultan. Today the courtyard is chock-a-block with cafe tables while the surrounding eyvans (vaulted halls) are home to souvenir stalls.

Look to the right as you enter the courtyard to see the porch that was walled up as a tomb for Sultan İzzettin Keykavus I, who commissioned the building before he died of tuberculosis.

Come in the early evening as the sun sets and swallows swoop between the minarets of the neighbouring mosques and you could imagine yourself in Iran.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central Anatolia attractions

1. Çifte Minare Medrese

0.02 MILES

Commissioned by the Mongol-İlkhanid vizier Şemsettin Güveyni after defeating the Seljuks at the battle of Kosedağ, the Çifte Minare Medrese (1271) has a…

2. Kale Cami

0.04 MILES

This squat Ottoman mosque (1580) was constructed by Sultan Murat III's grand vizier Mahmut Paşa.

3. Bürüciye Medresesi

0.06 MILES

The Bürüciye Medresesi's monumental Seljuk gateway is a fitting entry to this medrese (seminary), built to teach 'positive sciences' in 1271. Inside, in a…

4. Ulu Cami

0.2 MILES

The Ulu Cami (1197) is Sivas' oldest significant building, and one of Anatolia's oldest mosques. Built by the Danışmends, it's a large, low room with a…

5. Aliağa Cami

0.23 MILES

In the adjoining garden of this small 17th-century mosque are five graves, including that of the mosque's founder Haji Agha Mustafa Bey.

6. Subaşı Hanı

0.26 MILES

This Ottoman-era han (caravanserai), with its timber and white-plaster facade, is still used as shop space for traders. Inside plenty of spice sellers…

7. Paşa Cami

0.27 MILES

The bulky yellow-stone Paşa Cami is a very new mosque by Sivas standards – built in 1805.

8. Gök Medrese

0.28 MILES

Having been shuttered for years, the Gök Medrese was nearing the end of an extensive restoration project on our last visit. Built in 1271 at the behest of…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "turkey/central-anatolia/sivas/attractions/sifaiye-medresesi/a/poi-sig/1249350/360885",
      "destination": "Central-Anatolia",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Türkiye",
      "region": "Central-Anatolia",
      "position": "superzone"
    }