Sirince
:About the History of Sirince
This pretty Orthodox village,30 km. from Kusadasi.The village is a perfect synthesis of Turk-Greek culture as of the 1920's;after the Independence War,People exchange between greek and Turks has occured and all those typical Greek houses,though they kept their orginal outside characteristics,have received the local layout inside.The most beautiful thing is they are open to visitors you will be invide at a house for a cup of Tee,and can see the Art of the House.Some of them are chanced to Pansions,If you are looking a peaceful Place, you will be in right way in Sirince....!!!! 8 km. from Selçuk, Sirince village is a regional tourist center for day trips. Leading to its center at an altitude of 350 m above sea level is an asphalt road. The village dates back to the 5th century. Its old name was Kirkinca or Çirkince. There were several reasons for the village's settlement. First, the mountain it settled on was good for protection. Second, it was away from malaria that was rife in the Selçuk-Ephesus area. Finally, there was plenty of water, the soil was fertile and the climate was ideal. According to some sources, the village was established in Aydinogullari times. Others say it was the Derebeylik times. The name Cirkince may have come from a group of people set free by the Derebeyliks. When asked if the place they were to be settled in were beautiful the answer may have been "Ugly" ("cirkince" in the local language). The village was emptied at the time of the deliverance of Izmir and resettled with Turks coming from Thessaloniki. When the then mayor of Izmir, Kazim Dirik Pasa, came to visit the village, he heard the "village march" composed by the local schoolteacher and was quite moved by it and rename the village Sirince ("charming"). The architecture of the village is different from other villages. The houses are two-story, made of stone or brick, with many windows all the same size. Hanging balconies, basement cellars with kitchens are also characteristic. The window frames and eaves are decorated with pictures and bird motifs. There are two churches in the village, a restored grammar school typical of the period, and a fountain and a monastery in the village.Among the sources of income to the village, the pre-eminent one lately is tourism. Thousands of local and foreign tourists come to the village every month of the year, take pictures, eat local pastries, and drink the locally made wine. Apple, cherry, peach, and strawberry wines made in local homes are favorites of all who taste them. The locals also grow peaches, grapes, and apples for sale.