Places to visit: Ephesus Ancient Site, Archaeological Museum, House of Virgin Mary,
The Basilica of St. John, Şirince Greek Village.

Ephesus Ancient Site: The findings obtained in this region where the native people, namely the Lelegs and the Carians have lived, indicate that the city is dated back to 2000 years B.C. Today Ephesus is perhaps the world’s best-preserved ancient city and its ruins attract visitors from across the globe. In Roman times, Ephesus was the provincial capital of Asia, with a population of some 250,000 at the height of its glory. An important Christian community arose here, and Ephesus was visited by St. Paul, who later wrote one of his epistles to the Ephesians. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame is the fact that Ephesus once housed the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The most significant relic of the cite is the immense amphitheater that holds 24,000 people and is still used today. Walk along the Sacred Way, where the rich once lived and an ingenious water and sewer system was constructed beneath paving stones of marble; see the Temple of Hadrian, a Corinthian-style building with the head of Medusa on the porch to keep away evil spirits; and the Library of Celsius, which held 12,000 ancient scrolls which were stored in niches around the walls.

Archaeological Museum: Almost all of the exhibits are findings from Ephesus, the most spectacular being two life-size statutes of Artemis Ephesia, both of them dating from the middle Roman imperial era.

House of Virgin Mary: On Bulbul Dag (Nightingale Mountain) there is the House of the Virgin where it's believed that she passed last years of her life and died. Virgin Mary came to Ephesus together with St. John and taken up to Panaghia Kapulu Mountain to survive the Roman persecutions. Now the House of Virgin Mary is recognized as a shrine by Vatican.

The Basilica of St. John: In the 4th century Byzantines build a small church over his tomb and finally in the 6th century Justinian I build a cathedral which was destroyed by the Arab raids between 7th and 8th centuries. Today his grave is recognized as a shrine by Vatican.

Şirince Greek Village: This pretty old Orthodox village was once named Çirkince ("ugly"). Indeed its habitants gave this name on purpose as they did not want to be bothered by strangers.

Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly at all and called it Şirince ("pretty"). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish and Greek culture as of the 1920s: after the Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. The most beautiful specimens are open to visitors. And even in the courtyard of one of them, one will discover a nicely restored Orthodox Church. All the narrow streets of the village belong to the women, selling handcrafts of all kinds and olive oil. Another attraction of Şirince is its wine: try its taste in small cafés or in the former municipal school restored and converted into today’s best restaurant of town "Artemis".

Though Şirince is developing its tourism very quickly, it has been able to preserve its authenticity and the meaning of its name.