Şirince, one of the most popular villages of the Aegean region, near Selçuk

ŞİRİNCE was founded by a tribe of 40 families and first called “KIRKINCA”. Later the governor of Izmir at the time thought this was a very beautiful spot and called it ŞİRİNCE (meaning pretty CUTE). This place has been one of the most popular spots for tourists in the Aegean region of Turkey.

Based on records, the history of this originally Orthodox village goes back to fifth century before Christ. One can see 2 churches in the village of real historical importance. It is good to know that under the leadership of the SELCUK museum and with the support of the American Institute, St. Yohannes Church was restored and opened for visitors. The other church is located on the hill on the right side at the entrance to the village and its name is unknown as it has no inscription from the past.

Şirince, the Pearl of the Aegean province of Selcuk, appeals to both the eye and the palate with its architectural texture of handcrafts, wine and ÇÖP kebab. It receives so many visitors as many tourist groups visit the ancient city of Ephesus which is in Selcuk (very close to Şirince).

The narrow streets of the beautiful village, which are worth seeing with its historical and architectural texture are covered with cobblestone. Admiring the pristine architectural texture, tourists take plenty of photos of the village and are hosted in houses with characteristic building style. During your visit to the village, you can have a rest in the tea garden under the sycamore tree more than 100 years old, and sit in the historical coffees.

In şirince, the women of the village offer their hand-made laces, coffee table covers, wool gloves, socks and crafts to the delight of the tourists both in their homes and in the bazaar they set up in the village square. Families residing in the village serve the village bread and vegetable dishes they cook in their gardens, wrap dolmas in the vine leaves of the village and pour morsels to groups of foreign tourists who want to know and taste Turkish cuisine.

In Şirince you can taste various wines and have a very tasty lunch/dinner in one of the several restaurants and try ÇÖP KEBABI which is supposed to be one of the special dishes of the village.

The surrounding area of the village is full of vineyards. And for years, everyone has been producing their own wine. This tradition is so old that the elders in the village say the wine they found in barrels from the Greeks as fermented ingots, were so hard they needed to use a wine to cut it. The wine house, located in the village bazaar, is a place where all local and foreign tourists can sit as a family with its interesting decor.