Siringe Village

This pretty old Orthodox village, 12km (7.5 miles) away from Ephesus and 30km (18.5 miles) from Kusadasi, was once Cirkince ("ugly"). Indeed its habitants gave this name on purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still, after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly at all and called it Siringe ("pretty"-with the stress on the last syllable). As the village is located on the top of a mountain, we will enjoy the impressive wine-yard and peach-orchard views. Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's : after the Independence War, population exchange between Greece and Turkey took place and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. The most beautiful specimens, some with internal decoration with wall frescoes, are open to visitors. In the courtyard of one of them, the nicely restorated Orthodox church of Aghios Ioannis (St. John) is there for anybody to visit. The marble plate built in a wall describes in Greek the details of the building of the church.
The narrow streets of the village are crowded with women, selling handicrafts of all kinds, souvenirs and olive oil. Another attraction of Sirince is its wine : try its taste in small cafés or in the former Greek municipal school, built in 1884 and restorated, today the best restaurant in town "Artemis". Though Siringe is developing its tourism very quickly, it has been able to preserve its authenticity and the meaning of its name 'special village'. Lunch and overnight in Kusadasi.
Photos by: Nick Bougas

Siringe Village	Siringe Village
Siringe Village	Siringe Village
Siringe Village	Siringe Village: The winding cobblestone alleys
Siringe Village: The winding cobblestone alleys	Siringe Village
Siringe Village	Siringe Village
Siringe Village	Siringe Village Marble plate built in the wall of the Aghios Ioannis church. It is in Greek and it informs us that the church was built in 1805 and that it collapsed when it was first erected and that it was rebuilt. The names of the archbishop and the help of the faithful Christian community, both in terms of money and work offered, is also mentioned.
Siringe Village: The Church of Aghios Ioannis Preserving the frescoes	Siringe Village: The Church of Aghios Ioannis
Siringe Village: The Church of Aghios Ioannis	Siringe Village: The Church of Aghios Ioannis