Secreted high in the inland hills among wild orchards and rolling groves, Sirince Village is a scenic little village dotted with a dollhouse collection of stone and stucco houses. The area was probably settled when Ephesus was abandoned, but what you see today mostly dates from the 19th century. The story goes that a group of freed Greek slaves moved here in the 15th century and called the village Çirkince (Ugliness) to deter others from following. The name was changed to the more honest Sirince (Pleasantness) in the 1920s during the founding of the new republic.
Before Atatürk’s republic, Sirince was a larger town inhabited by Ottoman Greeks. The current villagers, who moved here from Salonica during an exchange of populations in 1924, are ardent fruit farmers who also make and sell an interesting assortment of wines. Flavours range from raspberry and peach to the trendier black mulberry and pomegranate.
Sirince Village is by no means the ‘undiscovered gem’ as usually marketed in other guidebooks. In fact, it’s the village’s widely known reputation for authenticity that has marked the start of its demise. During the day, souvenir shops run the entire length of the main street as vendors try to lure you in using a smattering of catcalls in different languages. Visitors who ignore this and stay the night (at a stiff premium, of course) will be well rewarded with the chance to see the real village after the tour buses have gone.
Sights & Activities
If you’re trying to avoid the crowds then it’s best to visit in the evening when the droves of daytrippers have long retreated from the mountains 3pm is about the busiest time of day. Şirince’s charm lies in its subtleties, so your time is best spent simply ambling around the crooked cobbled lanes and admiring the adorable architecture.
The ruined Church of St John the Baptist ( 8am-8pm summer, 8.30am-6.30pm winter) is of limited interest. Faded frescoes adorn the walls, which date back to Byzantine times. Funds are scarce, so restorations have yet to turn the space into more than a sanctuary for cawing birds.
Sleeping
Sirince is a captive market, and room rates can be ludicrously inflated for what you get.
Shopping
These days almost every house on the village’s main street has been transformed into a storefront selling a variety of local wares, namely fruit wine. Ask to sample your wine of choice before making the purchase it’s not everyone’s cup of tea some of the flavours taste a bit too much like cough syrup. Other shops sell olive oil, soaps and leather goods, usually crafted locally (it’s best to ask). It’s worth stopping by Demetrius of Ephesus (Sirince Köyü 26) , a local artisan who crafted most of the jewellery and trinkets for the movie Troy you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the photo of Brad Pitt hanging above the cash register.
We had two nights in this lovely hill top village. Make sure you wander further up the hill where it is less touristy.
Really a beautiful place, nice pensions, hotels or hostels around there. Almost all places are very old buildings. Looks fantastic.
Sirince is a pleasant town in a pleasant setting but better suited to day visit than staying there as nearby Selcuk has much more to offer, costs less for the same food and lodging, and is MUCH more convenient to the sites one would most likely want to visit.
A friend from work recommended that we should visit this little gem in the hills above Selcuk. We went not sure what we would find. Perhaps we were fortunate but it wasn’t too busy with tourists – there was only one coach there. Is it commercialised?
This charming village with its picturesque wooden houses used to be my favrored.
The village is very traditional up on the mountain. You can feel the fresh air and there are many trees arround it. Beautiful old stone houses, cute little roads leading on them.Also I liked very much the old Greeke school, which is now a restaurant. Nice pure soaps on the litte market aerea and pasminas.
Do not miss visiting this once Greek town that remains very authentic. This is a quiet refuge, with uneven streets with very rare occasions of motor transportation, you walk. Take comfortable shoes as the paths are uneven and the stairs steep and narrow in some areas. However the vistas are just breathtaking in this lush and picturesque village.
Be sure to try the wine tasting and buy some bottles, especially the pomegrante wine!
Quiet and beautiful place in nature. Fresh air, delicious fruit wines.
My husband and I were looking forward to visiting this village after our visit to Ephesus. Our guide took us there for a quick visit. It was about 20 minutes scenic drive from Ephesus up the mountain.
The village itself was rather small a quaint little village that has reputation for producing fine fruit wines.