Siwas (former name: Sebastia) is a city of important economical activity and was a great carpet-center since the Ottoman era, but only at the end of the 19th century carpets were part of its reputation.
Several Seljuk buildings remind the visitor that it once was a splendid city with a rather unique atmosphere. It is the most eastern Turkish town with many carpet-workshops. Villages in the area have always cared for quality and finesse and sometimes found their inspiration in Persian art. Despite that in the first half of the 20th century several art schools and official institution (orphanages, prisons) opened workshops, Siwas is no longer a major carpet center in modern Turkey.