İZMİR Şirince
Set in the hills 8 kms/ 5 miles above Selçuk, this picturesque charming village was once named Kirkince by its Greek inhabitants who settled here by the end of the 18th century. After the great exchange of population following the establishment of the Turkish Republic, the village was repopulated by Turkish people who called it Çirkince, a distortion of Kirkince (which in fact was how the Greeks pronounced the Turkish name Kırkınca!). As the word Çirkince means “ugly” in the Turkish language, the name was finally transformed in Şirince which means “pretty” and which really suits the village.
Most of the old Greek houses have been restored with their original characteristics outside ( wattle and daub technique, projecting upper storey) and the local Turkish layout and decoration inside, allowing the place to keep an authentic appearance and reveal a synthesis of Greco-Turkish culture. Some of these houses are open to visitors. A nice stroll will allow to discover the village with at the top its old church, and enjoy the panoramic views of the vineyards, peach orchards and olive groves.
Unusually for Turkey, here the local people make and sell wine and even invite visitors to taste their vintage. They also sell other local produces such as olive oil, bay leaves, origano, fruits... Handicrafts (embroideries, baskets etc...) are sold by peasant women in the cobbled streets.
Pensions and restaurants have been established in some of the historic houses. There are also a few simple restaurants where very nice gözleme is served.
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Didim (Didyma)
