Şirince, a former Greek Orthodox settlement dating back to BC 5th, is located in the Aegean İzmir’s Selçuk, surrounded by the Ancient City of Ephesus, Temple of Arthemis, House of the Virgin Mary, the famous Nesin Math Village and also popular destinations like Smyrna (İzmir), Urla, Kuşadası, Didyma and Pamukkale to name a few. Our village epitomizes “how rural tourism helps rural development”. The authenticity, cultural and historical value is preserved for example the architecture, traditional village lifestyle and heritage, by the collaborative efforts of the local people and respective public institutions. 

Şirince’s geographic and topographic location, environment, usage of terrain, and balance between rural tourism, agriculture and visitors’ needs have become the main priority for environmental sustainability, as mentioned in the Revision for the Conservation Master Plan 2017. The Master plan’s vision is based on maintaining Şirince’s environmental sustainability, regulating its commercial and creative activities, which will not harm its “rural agricultural tourism” model, enabling urban visitors to experience a rural village lifestyle in this protected environment, while making the local people earn income from the tourism industry. 

As Sirince was designated as a “Historic Site” in 1984 due to the traditional pattern of the settlement and has been protected within the framework of a Conservation Plan, all tourism and travel-related services in our village have also been developed and monitored according to a set of principles. In addition, The Apocalypse! The world did not end; only a “2012 Phenomenon” made our village internationally famous.