Birgi is a very pretty old town overlooking the Küçükmenderes Valley southeast of Izmir, Turkey.
The Byzantines knew the area as Pyrgion, Greek for "little tower".
The town served as the capital of the local Aydınoğulları Kingdom, one of the mishmash of medieval statelets formed in Asia Minor during the turbulent period roughly between the 13th century, when the Anatolian Seljuks, better known as the Sultanate of Rum in the west, collapsed after the Mongol invasion, and the 15th century, the rise of the Ottomans as the central authority. Much of the town's layout, as well as its monuments, date back to this time.
- Aydınoğlu Mehmet Bey Mosque. Built in 1312
- Ümmü Sultan Tomb.
- Umur Bey Statue.
- Çarkıroğlu Mansion.
There is also a few low-key attractions some distance from the town.
Aydınoğlu Mehmet Bey Mosque. Built in 1312
Ümmü Sultan Tomb.
Umur Bey Statue.
Çarkıroğlu Mansion.
İmam Birgivi Shrine.
While there are some shops and stalls around the town offering local products such as black mulberry syrup (kara dut suyu) or chestnut candy (kestane tatlısı, which is sourced from the Mt Bozdağ, towering over the town), you will usually find them locked up during the weekdays, even in the high summer season, as this is a town that often goes unexplored except by some domestic weekend trippers.
The road swinging north past the town climbs up the Mt Bozdağ (ancient Tmolos). Although not without its more than fair share of hairpin turns and narrowish in parts, the road is well-surfaced, goes through a very lush landscape, especially in its deep descent on the northern side of the mountain, and is extremely scenic. On its northern end, it arrives almost right at the gate of the ancient site of Sardis, the capital of the Lydians, or about 5km west of Salihli, the district centre.