Sirince (pronounced she-RIN-jay) is a wonderful little Aegean village of 600 inhabitants. It is located in the hills at about 350 meters (1000 ft) above sea level, which means pleasant nights even in hottest July, some serious frost and the occasional snowfall in winter. Most of the houses in the village date from the 19th century or earlier. They were built at a time when Sirince was predominantly a Greek village.

The village lies in a lovely bowl of hills surrounded by peach orchards, vineyards and olive groves. The higher hills are covered with pine forest. Nearly all houses command a pastoral panorama extending over many miles, undisturbed by any modern development. The surroundings are full of idyllic country walks.

Some tourism has unfortunately come into the village in recent years, bringing with it more than twenty souvenir shops, a dozen restaurants and a few guesthouses. But farming remains the principal activity. Villagers make wine and olive oil, and grow some of the best peaches in the country. They greet strangers with a smile and very often invite them in for a cup of tea.

The archeological site of Ephesus is located in the plain 11 km (7 miles) down the road. A public minibus serves Selçuk - the modern town of Ephesus - every half hour throughout the day. The beach is located 15 km (10 miles) away.