BIRGI

BIRGI: PROBABLY ONE OF THE PRETTIEST VILLAGES IN TURKEY!

The Ultimate Ottoman Architecture Feel

Birgi, you may have never heard of it. However, this is probably one of the most beautiful villages in Turkey. Technically speaking, Birgi is not a village; it is a small town not far from Ödemis in Izmir province, but it has a point and authentic Turkish village feel. If you like the off-the-beaten-track in Turkey, the Ottoman houses, lovely surroundings and fantastic weekend holidays, add Birgi to your list. We guarantee that you will not regret it! This is why.

BIRGI: A VIBRANT OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Birgi’s collection of authentic Ottoman houses is fantastic! As it is located along the famous Silk Road, Birgi has a long history. Its name comes from the medieval Greek word Pyrgion, which means small tower. It is the birthplace of Phrygia, Lydia, Persia, Pergamon, Rome and Byzantium. Despite this history, at the end of the 20th century, Birgi’s beautiful old houses seemed to fall apart after being ignored for a long time.

However, in time, people began to realise the potential and beauty of this small town and restored some houses. Many things happened after that, making Birgi today a pleasant place to spend a few days.

Bıçakçı Esseyyid Hacı Ali Ağa Fountain With Ottoman Houses At The Back

The problem with most open-air museums is that they often have an artificial feel, unlike Birgi. This lively place has friendly and welcoming people who make your stay all the more pleasant. No matter where you walk, you’re met with a smile, a hoşgeldiniz (welcome) or an invitation for tea. This is Turkey in its most pleasant form and shape.

Picture Perfect Birgi

If you try to visit on a Monday, you’ll enjoy the peace of an ordinary weekday (Birgi can get busy with Turkish visitors during the weekend), and Monday is market day in Birgi, which is always a plus in our books!

One Of The Two Main Streets

THE LARGEST HOUSE: ÇAKIRAĞA KONAĞI

Some houses are more spectacular than others. This is undoubtedly the case in Çakırağa Konağı. The mansion was turned into a museum in 1995, but unfortunately, it was closed indefinitely for restoration. Don’t let this disappoint you; even if you can’t enter the building, there is still much to appreciate from the outside. The history of this mansion can be traced back to the second half of the 18th century, where it lived until it was nationalised in 1975 and under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

Different sources told different stories about the people who built it, but almost all mentioned that he was a local businessman who married twice. One wife is from Izmir, and the other is from Istanbul. Legend has it that those city paintings were painted on the walls of their rooms to make them feel less nostalgic. Historians refute this lovely story because some of the buildings depicted in the paintings indicate that these paintings were made at a later date. Be sure to climb the stairs in the alley next to Çakırağa Konağı to admire the inner courtyard.

Don’t Forget To Look Up When Walking Past Çakırağa Mansion

SEVERAL CHARMING MOSQUES

Birgi is scattered throughout the town and has several beautiful mosques dating back to the 14th century. Ulu Camii was built around 1312 in the Anatolian Seljuk style. It is located on the upper side of the town, directly above the river. Its minaret is an absolute masterpiece composed of red and turquoise glazed tiles. You will see three different patterns with geometric patterns that give this minaret a unique design. A lion statue of unknown origin is at the southeast corner of the facade. The area around the mosque is vibrant, with shady tea houses and local produce shops, perfect for stopping to admire the beautiful town below.

Ulu Camii

The Karaoğlu Mustafa Efendi mosque, built in 1782, is in a quiet spot. It has a lovely domed ablution area and offers beautiful town vistas and the hammam below. There’s a beautiful muezzin gathering place right above the entrance door.

View Of The Hamam From Above

The Derviş Ağa Mosque, located on the river banks, is richly decorated with colourful motifs on the outside. It has – just like the Karaoğlu Mustafa Efendi mosque – a muezzin gathering place above the entrance door. This mosque dates back to 1663.

Derviş Ağa Mosque Entrance

BEAUTIFUL OTTOMAN HOUSE

Walking around Birgi is a walking trail surrounded by beautiful Ottoman houses, some professionally restored. When strolling through the streets of Birgi, you can’t help but fall from one surprise to the next. It does not matter whether the house is renovated or not. They are all equally beautiful. The natural beauty of all this is that you will meet people who live on these streets no matter how far you go. Could you be sure to look around and look up? The woodwork finishes on doors and roofs are sometimes jaw-dropping.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR BIRGI VISIT

In all honesty, there was nothing about Birgi we didn’t like. Our only regret was that we would have loved to stay here longer. Birgi is special. It offers a perfect balance of quaint, typical, old and new, not too big or too small, and a living small Turkish town. Birgi is the kind of place that puts a smile on your face from the moment you arrive. It makes you feel at ease, inviting you to discover everything it has to offer.

While this beautiful little town has managed to remain under the radar of foreign tourists, Turks love to visit here, especially after Birgi was featured in a popular Turkish television series called Yeşil Deniz, which translates to Green Sea. There’s a good selection of boutique hotels in Birgi. We stayed at Saliha hanım Taş Konak, a restored Ottoman house that was awarded a prize for its beautiful restoration. It’s the perfect pied-à-terre for your Birgi getaway, with all of the towns’ beauty within walking distance, and well-decorated rooms in the typical style.

HOW TO GET TO BIRGI

Birgi lies far from Ödemiş and the D310 road to the E85 highway between Aydın and Izmir. If you rely on public transport, count on an approximately 2-hour trip from Selçuk, changing buses at Tire and Ödemiş.

Old Houses Alongside The River

POSTS NEARBY

Sardis church of revelation, an impressive restoration project (26.31 km)

Nysa, the ancient city turned olive grove (39.90 km)

If you have any questions about Birgi, feel free to ask. You can message us through our contact page or leave a comment on our Instagram or Facebook pages.

You can also join our group Turkey Travel Photography on Facebook to share your lovely photos or experiences about Turkey.