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Neighbourhood in Ödemiş, İzmir, Turkey
Photo: Canel Ölgün, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Birgi is an attractive village overlooking the Küçükmenderes Valley in the Central Aegean Region of Turkey, with a population of 1832 in 2022. Its name derives from Greek "Pyrgion" (Πυργίον, "little tower") and from the 13th to 15th century it was capital of the Aydınoğulları principality or petty kingdom, one of several formed in the power vacuum between the collapse of the Seljuks and the rise of the Ottomans. Birgi has been little developed since, so its street layout and monuments date back to that time.
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Ulu Cami / Grand Mosque
Built in 1312 in Seljuk style, this was the central mosque of the Aydınoğulları principality. The exterior is modest but striking features within are the wooden mimbar, the deep blue marble mihrab, and the lion statue a rarity in Islamic buildings.
Three storey mansion built in 1761 for a wealthy merchant. The ground floor was stables, kitchen and guest room. The family lived on the first floor in winter and second floor in summer.
Charming medresa built around a courtyard in 1657, now a museum.
Welcoming small pansiyon by the Medresesa.
Pleasant stay in a stone cottage.
Good location, mostly comfy though one room is tiny small, service and catering erratic.
The local hub is Ödemiş, which has highway, bus and rail connections from Izmir the regional capital. Birgi is 9 km northeast of Ödemiş, a short drive or dolmuş ride.
Read in the guideWalking is the best plan, on the narrow cobbled streets shaded by mature pines amidst traditional buildings.
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Gaziemir · International · ADB
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