Åžirince @ Travel Turkey

Nişanyan House Hotel in Şirince offers home-like welcome
Co-writer of 'The Best Small Hotels of Turkey,' Sevan Nişanyan's small hotel in Şirince, İzmir, accommodates the best features of small hotels. October 11, 2010 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=nisanyan-h...

Surrounded by hillside pastures, the houses are only 2 minutes from the heart of the formerly Greek village of Sirince.

The village is a protected area and contains lots of unique architecture, including 2 churches. The maze of cobbled streets is like stepping back in time and can be explored at your leisure. The friendly villagers are happy to sell you herbs gathered from the mountains, local wines and handicrafts.

The valley of olive groves and peach orchards in which the village nestles, gives way to vineyards and pine forests, providing endless opportunities for walking. There's only one road into Şirince, a winding mountain lane which begins in Selçuk, ascending and weaving its way through the orchards and olive groves. Şirince is principally known for two things; fruit-flavored locally produced wine and old Greek terraced houses. The scenery is spectacular. The population of Şirince is approximately 650; the residents are second- and third-generation Turks whose ancestors were part of the 1923 Greek-Turk population exchange.

Although the village is in an isolated spot, there are significant places of interest close by. Guests can take a trip to nearby Ephesus and the museum of artifacts, or St. John's Castle, Virgin Mary's house (thought to be her final resting place) or visit the grotto of the seven sleepers. A range of activities is also available in Selçuk, from skydiving and microlight flights to camelback rides or jeep safaris.