Why Should We Go to Şirince?

SİRİNCE

 Şirince, a neighborhood of the Selçuk district of İzmir, was a Greek village with a population of less than 2,000 centuries ago. The village, whose population increased with the settlement of the Turks during the exchange process, was known for its viticulture, olive cultivation and wine production until that time. Today, besides grapes and olives, the village's main source of income is tourism.  The village, which was named Kirkince in honor of 40 people who hit the mountains in an unknown period, was called Kirkice, Kirkince and Çirkince over time. The village, which was named Şirince upon the instruction of Kazım Dirik, the Governor of İzmir at the time, is one of the cutest settlements in İzmir and the Aegean.

1. Sirince Bazaar

 The center of life in Şirince is in the bazaar. Coffee houses, cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops are side by side in the bazaar, where the activity does not end all day long. There are also shops where the needs of the village are met, such as greengrocers, butchers and markets.  The bazaar, where narrow streets meet from start to finish, is an indispensable point for exploring the village with a pleasant walking route.

 2. St. John the Baptist Church

 Restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the past years, St. John the Baptist Church was in ruins for a long time. The inscription of the church, which is located in a courtyard with a fountain, states, "The Church of the Prophet and John the Baptist was built for the god he loved very much, by the grace of Kallinikos of Siphnos, by the order of the holy priestess of Helliopolis. It was made with the invaluable help of devout Christians here and around.”

 Although the exact year the church was built is not known, it was rebuilt in 1805 after it was destroyed. In front of the entrance door of the church, the small pool with the statue of the Virgin Mary in the middle was turned into a wishing pool by the visitors. The outside garden of the church has a magnificent view. Do not miss the view and do not forget to take photos from the garden.

3. Stone School

 Sirince Stone School Museum is located in a part of the historical school building where Artemis Restaurant & Wine House serves. This museum, which is open 7 days a week, presents the traces of the education system of the Ottoman Empire from the Tanzimat to the Republican period, with objects, photographs and documents.  Taş Mektep was founded in 1906 by the Izmir education company Homer with the contribution of the Greeks from Çirkince. This building, which is called the 'Great School' due to the size of the school building, served as a Greek school until the 1921-1922 academic year. The school, which provided education to Turkish children until the early 1990s after the population exchange, has been operating under the name Şirince Artemis Restaurant since 1996.

 4. Nisanyan Houses

 Nişanyan Houses, surrounded by hundreds of cypress trees, paved with cobblestone roads, and with mani's written on the village fountain, welcomes daily visitors as well as boarding guests. Müjde Tönbekici, who wrote the book Small Hotels with Sevan Nişanyan, is the manager of Nişanyan Houses.  It is a great shortcoming for me that many people who come to Şirince leave the village after taking a few tours in the bazaar, eating and drinking something. Those who have not seen Nişanyan Houses cannot say that they have seen Şirince. These houses have a great share in the development, change, healthy growth and recognition of the village.

 5. Hodri Square Tower

 The Hodri Meydan Tower, which is a part of Nişanyan Houses, is the symbol of Sevan Nişanyan's struggle against taboos and the system. This 12-meter-high structure was completed in 2011. This tower, which has turned into a center of attraction in Şirince, has witnessed hundreds of beautiful memories such as romantic dinners and marriage proposals since its construction. Do not forget to meet the legendary view of the tower.

 6. Nesin Mathematics Village

 Nesin Mathematics Village, about 2 km from Şirince, is located in a quiet place in nature. Every summer, students and teachers from all over the world do mathematics independently of television, newspapers and the outside world in this village, which is unique in the world and completely devoted to science.  The village, whose construction started in 2007, was built on 20 decares of land in a traditional way and brought to life. The half-open dining hall, amphitheater and library are worth seeing in the village, which grows organically with donations and supports according to the needs. The Philosophy Village of the Nesin Foundation is located next to the Mathematics Village.  

7. Theater Madrasa

 The official name of the Theater Madrasa, which was established on a 6-decare land right next to the Nesin Mathematics Village, is the International Research, Creation and Performance Center. The madrasah, which set out to create an alternative university atmosphere, is both a retreat and a meeting point.  

8. Nisanyan Rock Tomb

 Sevan Nişanyan, who came up with the idea of ​​having a rock tomb built while working on a book on Lycia, built a similar rock tomb in Dalyan in Şirince after 3 years of work.  This tomb, which is the reflection of the extraordinary personality of Nişanyan, who said that he had a rock tomb built in order to leave a permanent mark against the thought that what has been done in Turkey since the first years of the Republic is shantytown, imitation and second class, is in the forest land in Kayserdagi.  Sevan Nişanyan, on the other hand, annexed the Greek island of Samos by boat during his conviction in Foça Open Prison. The temporary residence permit he received from Greece was canceled after he mentioned some Turkish origin place names in Greece. Nişanyan and his wife Ira live in Tivat, Montenegro.

1. For coffee on the sand

 Slowly cooked on the hot sand, Turkish coffee is among the flavors identified with Şirince. During the bazaar walk, you can enter one of the places that write coffee on the sand and taste the coffee.

 2. Taste fruity wines 

 The wine tradition of the Greeks is continued in the village with fruity wine. There are fruit wine tasting places all over the village. All of the wines, 90 percent of which are sold under the Vincent brand, are produced in the same place. Since the alcohol content of fruit-flavored wines is very low, do not expect real wine, enjoy the moment! There are several shops that sell real wine.

3. For the elderberry syrup

 Elderberry syrup is one of the traditional flavors that Nişanyan Hotel presents to Şirince. Elderberry syrup, made from the sap of elderberry grown by the creek, is a refreshing welcome drink. Served alongside Turkish coffee, after a meal or during a chat, this drink is one of my favorite flavors.

 Cafes in the center of Şirince serve mostly fast food-style menus. Pancakes and pastries are among the fast snacks. Apart from that, you can try different flavors from shepherd's roast to soup, kebab, skewers and seafood. Dimitros Restaurant, Şirince Artemis Restaurant and Nişanyan Hotel at the entrance of the village serve as places to eat well.

 Ephesus Ancient City and Ephesus Museum is located in Selçuk district center, 8 km from Şirince. When you come to the village, Selçuk Castle, St. You can also see the St. John's Monument, the House of Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, Kuşadası and Dilek Peninsula and Büyük Menderes Delta National Park.

 Where to stay in Şirince?  

Şirince is a stop where you can take a pleasant break with its boutique hotels and pensions. Boutique hotels, which are known for their rich breakfast varieties, can blow their minds, especially those who are fond of breakfast like me. Take note of Nişanyan Hotel, which has a bird's eye view of the village, and the Wizard's House with its interesting story. Güllü Konakları is also an impressive hotel.