The last time I went in September, I realized that Alaçatı is definitely not the place that is good for my soul in İzmir.. My heart beats the fastest here, let me introduce you: Sığacık, Turkey’s first Citta Slow town. This is the beautiful, quiet and peaceful town of Seferihisar that has managed to preserve its culture, architecture, houses, food, plants, vegetables, indeed its spirit, against modernism and urbanization for decades.. Citta Slow; that is, those beautiful settlements where life is slow and everything is like the first day, the symbol of which is snails, and the population does not exceed 50,000.
İzmir Sığacık, which is 50 kilometers from Seferihisar and 5 kilometers from Seferihisar; that sweet place that makes you feel good when you breathe in, enjoy your pancakes, refresh you when you drink your tea, warm your heart when you greet the smiling aunts you see while walking on the streets. This is the real pearl of the Aegean, that cozy town that everyone avoids.
Both hospitable and sincere… Some want it to be unknown, so that it stays like this forever. Some of them should be shared more, Sığacık’s name extends everywhere.. I choose the second. Come on, spend your next vacation here; Have a good time so that you too will be warmed up, your heart will be refreshed.. Speaking of which, I gathered my favorites about Sığacık together.. Here are 10 reasons to go to you; I’m sure you’ll find many more.
#1 Nostalgia in Sığacık Streets:
White, sometimes colorful, cobblestone houses with bay windows and wooden details Getting lost in the cobbled streets is the first thing to do here to discover the beautiful corners of Sığacık.. Streets that make you happy from the very beginning. Have you visited the mini shops you come across, your first minutes in Sığacık start like a dream.. Sometimes lush plants hanging from the hills, sometimes colorful flower pots lined up in front of the doors make you smile, most of all those hospitable sweet townspeople.
Sığacık Streets
#2 Landscape at Sığacık Harbor:
Sigacik; Since it was a town covering the borders of Teos, one of the 12 cities of Ionia in history, the port is also known as Teos Marina today.. Watching the sunset behind the marina, which impresses at first glance with its capacity of over 500 boats, or sitting on the benches and enjoying the view is one of the best things to do in this small seaside town.. By the way, those who have a long time can explore the bays of Seferihisar with daily boat tours departing from here.
Towards the harbor
#3 Sightseeing at Sığacık Castle:
Let’s put the port aside; Sığacık Castle is the structure that welcomes you when you turn your back here.. The bastions of the castle, which is estimated to have been built during the Seljuk period, also have the best bird’s eye view of the town.. The castle, which took its final form during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent before the Rhodes expedition, was rebuilt with the stones of the Ancient City of Teos, and today it has been renovated under the leadership of the visionary Mayor of Seferihisar, Tunç Soyer.. By the way, the town was actually built within the walls of the castle, so the most important point that interests you is actually the streets inside this castle and the market that is set up here every Sunday.
Sığacık Castle
#4 Housework at Kaleiçi Bazaar delicacies and handcrafted beauties:
It’s time for Kaleiçi Market, my favorite place in Sığacık! Ok, it gets overcrowded on Sundays; but can you imagine a trip to Sığacık without tasting the baklavas, pastries, fried zucchini flower fries, artichokes, stuffed leaves and even cakes that all the aunts who have a counter here?
From Kaleiçi Market, Photograph: Shutterstock
This is a producer’s market, commonly known as an organic market. The producer market concept is one of the requirements of Citta Slow.. Everything sold comes from local people, as produced. So, it is not possible to see anything that came from Ödemiş.. Everything must be done at home, from the garden, even if it is handcrafted from Sığacık.. Interesting thing is; All the aunts in the market have the same taste, their mothers are like the same person.. Maybe you should come here for an internship before you get married! In terms of time, it should not be too late, it is the most logical to solve the lunch here on foot (sometimes by sitting in the gardens of the houses). Now a piece of pastry, now three or five wraps, ah, not without artichokes, and when you say a little cake, you see that you have no more food for 1 gram.. What could be better than a meal that meets the tourist straight from the kitchen of the house, right?
Producer’s market in the street, Photo: Shutterstock
#5 Travel to the past in the Ancient City of Teos:
Sığacık’s greatest historical wealth is this ancient city, 1 kilometer away from the town.. Teos, which gained its independence with the Ionians after the Persians, played an important role in the trade of the region.. This ancient city, which you can visit by paying 5 TL at the entrance, is filled with the remains of architectures such as agora, theater and odeon.. Since Dionysus, the god of wine, is from here, the temple he gave his name is the most important remnant of this ancient city.
Ancient City of Teos, Photo: Shutterstock
Don’t expect a neat display when you arrive. The issue of remains remains true, but I should also mention that the works continue with the great effort of the municipality.. Concerts take place from time to time in the amphitheater inside, and this is the most distinctive structure of the ancient city.. All that remains of all other architectures are the column and half plinths.
Teos Antique City, Photograph: Shutterstock
#6 Sea break at Akkum Beach:
To Sığacık in summer If you are coming, you may also want to swim in the sea.. You are lucky; Seferihisar sea is always cool, maybe even cold. You cannot swim in the center of Sığacık; however, you can choose Akkum Beach without going too far.. Akkum with yellow sand is a good choice for both seeing the sunset and swimming with pleasure.. There are also private businesses on the beach, free areas as well.. Those who want to get away from the crowd can choose Akarca Beach, one of the region’s favorites.. This is a blue flag public beach with its clean water, a little pebbly compared to Akkum.. By the way, let me add that Seferihisar is the district with the most blue flag public beaches.. There are many beaches to go to, these two are my priorities.
Akkum Beach
#7 Afternoon at Pasha Captain’s House:
He has a very legendary pancake! When I say Pasha Captain’s House, this sentence comes to mind first.. We came here in the evening of a day when we visited Sığacık step by step and I have not forgotten it since that day.. While walking by the beach, you catch your eye with the mosaics on the outer wall, you enter.. Pasha Kaptan welcomes you with its authentic and abundant sea shell decor, and a large and spacious garden at the back.. If I were you, this would be the first place I would come to to relieve the tiredness of the day.. Cool afternoon tea, accompanied by pancakes, if you want some wraps or baklava. Of course, if you’re full because of the market, Turkish coffee is also welcome.
Address: 127. Sokak No:3, Sığacık
I found the most beautiful window in Sığacık, come!
#8 Raki – fish pleasure at Milos:
One of my favorites in Sığacık is Milos. As in every seaside town and resort, the fish restaurants around the harbor are of course very popular.. However; If you ask me, the secluded place in the alley is always more attractive.. Among the beautiful streets of Sığacık, Milos welcomes you with its white tables under the vine leaves.. They have very delicious appetizers, the cool, cool raki-fish pleasure here is irreplaceable.. Local favourite, basil appetizers and mackerel are highly recommended.
Address: Sadirvan Square 9/11, Sığacık
Milos
#9 The town of festivities:
Our house in Izmir is in Narlıdere. Those who know know; tangerine orchards are famous. I am very used to the concept, therefore I am sensitive to tangerines.. However, if there is a more unique tangerine location than Narlıdere, it is Sığacık.. So much so that it even has a traditional festival that takes place in November.. Organized to encourage and support the producers and to promote this very important agricultural resource of Sığacık, the festival was held for the 17th time this year; even my uncle Renan Bilek was one of this year’s guests.
If you come across the festival, you can taste millions of tangerines and watch concerts. They also choose a Tangerine King and Queen as part of the events.. Let me love Aegean’s eye, we have very sweet activities.
When it comes to festivals, I think Seferihisar is the center of original themes.. Let’s not miss the Seed Exchange Festival, where money does not pass and the people exchange seeds by barter, and the Sheep-Goat Fair, where small cattle breeders in Turkey meet.. I wanted to add it as a small note.
One of the cafes on the Sığacık beach
#10 45 minutes by minibus or bus from Izmir:
So easy to come! If you are coming from outside of Izmir, you will come to Seferihisar by car and follow the Sığacık and Teos signs.. If you are in Izmir and you have a little time, don’t waste any time, get out and come! You can reach Seferihisar from Üçkuyular terminal in İzmir by taking the minibuses of Seferihisar or by bus number 730.. After arriving in Seferihisar, you should watch the way of Sığacık minibuses.
Sığacık beach
Note: Filmed in Sığacık this summer, with Ata Demirer in the lead role and written by the screenplay, the movie “The Ones Happened” will be released on January 20.. The movie, in which my uncle Renan Bilek also plays, takes place mostly at sea; Watching is a must to laugh a lot!
While preparing this article, we thank Mayor Tunç Soyer for all the beauties here and for all the efforts to keep Seferihisar as Citta Slow. As an Izmirian, a big thank you, lots of love! One becomes even more proud when I write from such a distance.
Finally, I share a few more pictures below for you to get to know this beautiful town better.. You can find my other photos and notes about İzmir and the Aegean on my Instagram account and the hashtags #journavelege, #journavelizmir! See you in the streets of Sığacık in the summer!
Sığacık Gallery:
Sığacık streets
Sığacık beach
The colorful doors of Sığacık, the heart!
Sığacık streets
Sığacık beach
Gifts
My dear wife who contributed to the publication and production
Sığacık beach
I won’t miss it if I found the flower house!
The view over the castle (Taken with a toaster.)
