Myra ruins — Attraction in Demre

Myra, one of the six important cities of the Lycian Confederation with three voting rights, took its name from the Myros River (Demre Stream) where it was founded. This place is also known as the place where Goddess Kybele was Artemis.

Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was the bishop of Myra in the 4th century. St. Nicholas Church was first built in the 6th century after the death of St. Nicholas in Myra.

In 1034, in the naval attacks of the Arabs, St. Nicholaos Church was destroyed. The unrest caused by the Arab raids, the frequent overflow of the Myros Stream, the filling of some buildings with the soil coming due to this overflow and the earthquakes that occurred in the meantime caused the city to be abandoned.

The sailors from Bari took the bones of Saint Nicholaos on April and brought them to Bari on May 1087, despite the objections of the priests...

Along with its unique rock graves carved into the cliffs above, Myra is well-known for its acropolis and Roman-style theatre. A city dating from antiquity, Myra has accumulated a rich history and culture over the centuries and was considered to be one of the six leading cities in ancient Lycia.The exact origins of Myra’s existence remain unknown, although parts of its ruins are thought to date back to as far as the 5th century B.C. That’s around 2,500 years ago! Detailed carvings and inscriptions are a giveaway to Myra’s Greek and Lycian heritage, whilst the architecture of the glorious theatre will remind you of the Roman influence here. Located next to the river Myros, and surrounded by fertile land, Myra was once a prosperous city that reaped the benefits of...

Very interesting place. Good things: park for free, short walk to tickets, 90TL pp, another 100m walk and you're there. Clean, functioning WC right there. Lots of shaded seats in adjacent shop for coffee. Very easy.

Signs in Demre lead the way but you'll need maps to get there. Lots of small dusty roads.

Note Myra and Lycian tombs is the same place one ticket. Feels like a 2 for 1.

The site is easy to walk around, lots of interesting photos can be taken. The theatre is small (compared to Aspendos) and mostly broken up. But there are plenty of carved greek letters to spot. The stone faces are cute.

Super hot and sunny in summer, be prepared. But this site is...