Şirince is a village of 600 inhabitants in İzmir Province, Turkey, located about 8 kilometers east of the town Selçuk and about 8 kilometers from Ephesus. The area around the village has a history dating back to the Hellenistic period (323-31 BC). Pottery finds indicate the presence of seven villages and nine farmsteads in the area dating back to ancient and medieval times. On the road up, you see the remains of several Roman aqueducts as the village was an important water source for ancient Ephesus. With proximity to Ephesus and Selcuk, it's an ideal location to spend a day there. I also strongly recommend staying overnight in Sirince to experience it fully. It has a very authentic ambiance and a great mixture of Turkish and Roman history. By the way, it's one of my favorite destinations near Izmir, as an Izmirian. Today the village prospers through agriculture (olive oil, peaches, wine) and tourism. It is well protected and a rare and attractive example of Ottoman Christian architecture.
Last but not least, Sirince hosts a Mathematics Village, which is owned by the Nesin Foundation, is a small village of about 13,5 acres. Perched on a hillside and overflowing with greenery, it is a place where young and old learn, teach, and think about mathematics in peaceful remoteness. Unpretentious and unostentatious, the houses made out of rock, straw, and clay give off a pure welcoming air.