Sirince is a village nestled in the hills behind Ephesus. It has been inhabited since the 15th century, but is best known as being an old Greek village, with most of its buildings dating from the 18th century. The residents at the time were so keen to keep others away from their hidden paradise that they named the viilage, ''Cirkince'' (Turkish for ''ugly'') - although as time went by and more and more people discovered the richness and bounty of this valley, the name was changed, and so became known as ''Sirince'' (''pretty'').

Arriving into Sirince, the narrow, cobblestone streets and two-storey Greek-style houses are a happy sight, built along the foothills of Mount Maden, where the soil is very fertile, encouraging a great variety of fruit trees and vines to grow. Dining here is a delightful experience – sun ripened, full flavoured ingredients result in a feast for the senses and the variety of dishes is endless. Afterwards, a wander through the streets takes you alongside the many restored Greek-styles buildings, uphill to a restored Orthodox church, and eventually to a vantage point for a view out over the valley. In the clean, rural air, it is easy to feel that you have stepped back in time: Sirince is all about retaining centuries old traditions and alongside the many handcrafted items on sale, you will find locally produced olive oil and locally produced wines. Sirince's fruit wines are famous, so be sure to stop by one of the villages many wine houses for an enjoyable afternoon's tasting.

The style of accommodation in Sirince is in keeping with the village's authentic air — there are no real “hotels” as such, rather, a selection of restored Greek-style buildings converted into small guest houses, usually with a terrace overlooking the village for breakfasting in the sun. Rooms are generally smaller in size, but no less comfortable and of course, they have been nicely decorated in Greek-Ottoman style. The accent is definitely on charm. The charm of your hosts will certainly be appreciated, to boot! Sirince folk are renowned for their excellent hospitality.