OTR in Turkey - Day Three - Sirince

Şirince is a picturesque village located in the hills  at about 15 minutes drive from the ancient city of Ephesus and the town of Selçuk. Known for its well-preserved 19th-century Greek architecture, Şirince is a popular destination, offering an easy escape from the summer heat.

Şirince was originally a Greek village called "Kırkınca" or "Çirkince," meaning "ugly," a name said to have been given to discourage outsiders from settling there. The name was later changed to "Şirince," meaning "pleasant" or "charming," reflecting the village’s true character.

The village is famous for its whitewashed houses with red-tiled roofs, which are set on narrow, winding streets. Many of these buildings have been restored and now function as boutique hotels, cafes, and shops, preserving the traditional architectural style.

Şirince is renowned for its fruit wines, particularly those made from peaches, strawberries, and mulberries. Wine tasting is a popular activity for visitors, with numerous local wineries offering samples of their products.  Besides for wine, the village’s shops sell olive oil, handmade soaps, and the  usual Turkish souvenirs.

Many shops in Sirince will also sell the Zultanite, a rare and precious gemstone that is primarily found in the mountainous region of southwestern Turkey, near the village. It is renowned for its unique color-changing properties and is one of the few gemstones in the world that exhibits this phenomenon.

The gemstone is mined at high altitudes in Turkey, near the region of Milas, not far from Şirince. In theory it should be a rare gemstone, therefore the quantity of zultanite jewels that are fore sale in Sirince and across Turkey (many many shops in Istanbul) should at least raise some doubts about its authenticity.

To get an idea of the costs for the true Zultanite, this is a table from the site zultanite.com (https://zultanite.com/suggested-retail-values/)