Sirince Village | Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Sirince Tour
Sirince, Izmir's Selcuk is a village in the district. It is famous for its ancient Greek architecture and local wine. The narrow cobbled streets of the village will somehow take you to the main street of the village. You will admire the view while walking towards the hill. A perfect rural landscape, where urban life is not approaching, will be a great treatment for your eyes. Two-story whitewashed houses with a unique local character will give the impression that you walk on the postcard. Surrounded by olive trees and peach gardens, this small village is the perfect place to escape from the centre of the city. You will rest in Sirince and have a real taste of the Aegean.
Sirince is ready to welcome you all year round. Many visitors come here regularly. Painters and artists stay here to work in the peaceful environment of the village. It is also one of the most preferred places for the weekend.
History of Sirince
It is known that there is an old settlement in the region named 'Ephesus on the Hill' and that the Virgin Mary spent the last days in this region. However, it is believed that Sirince village was founded by Aydınoğulları, a tribe that ruled this land after the collapse of the Seljuk Empire. In the following days, the Greek population turned into a Greek village settled in the region. Not only architecture but a church still in use proves that the Greek character is still alive in the village.
Sirince means 'a beautiful place' in Turkish and there is a fun story behind this name. The real name of the village was actually Ugly, but it was considered an insult to such a beautiful place, so it was changed to Sirince.
Sirince is now a very well-known destination and is frequently visited by many visitors from all over the world.
Sirince is a small village of 750 people. It has not changed much and still retains its local character. A few years ago it was identified as a historical area of interest, and therefore, during the construction of a small number of new buildings, special attention was paid to its architectural features, and still some of the houses in Sirince are empty, some are used as retired. If you want to see the interior then feel free to ask. The residents are welcoming and will be very happy to invite you to their home. A freely circulating donkey can greet you from time to time on the streets of Sirince. They are also generally welcoming but it is always safer not to touch them.
While entering the village, the big historical building on the left is Sirince, the biggest restaurant and wine house. Here you can enjoy local wine and food, as well as the best views of the village. There are two churches in Sirince. If you enter the steep road at the end of the bazaar and walk down the steep street on the left, you will see an abandoned building on the left side of the road. One of the churches in this village. You can view the building from the outside, but it is not accepted. Although there is no protection around, the door is locked. The other church has been restored and still in use. Sirince is an excellent place for landscape painters and photographers.
You can click here to see the natural beauties of Sirince, or you can visit the unique beauties of Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Sirince Tour.