Şirince

About this place

Şirince is a small hill village in the municipality of Selçuk in İzmir Province, western Turkey, about 6 km east of Selçuk and 18 km northeast of Kuşadası in a straight line, close to ancient Ephesus. It has about 450 residents. The area's history goes back to the Hellenistic period, and remains of seven villages and farmsteads have been found around it. The village was an important water source for ancient Ephesus, and remains of Roman aqueducts still stand on the road up. It prospered after Ephesus was abandoned in the 15th century, though most of what is seen today dates from the 19th century, a rare example of preserved Ottoman-era architecture. White houses with red tiled roofs and wooden windows step up a green hillside among cypresses, olives and vines. Narrow stone lanes wind between them, lined with shops selling olive oil, soap and local produce. Visitors wander the climbing lanes, sit in cafés overlooking the valley and taste fruit wines and local food. The village now lives from olives, peaches and tourism, and a visit is often combined with Ephesus.