Myra was a Lycian city dating back to the 2nd century BC. This ancient city was renamed as Demre in 2005, and it is in the Antalya province of Turkey. After the Lycians, several people kept inhabiting there including ancient Greeks, Byzantines, and the Greek minority under the Ottoman rule. However, Greeks had to leave the town in 1923 due to the population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
There are two necropoleis at Myra as the river necropolis and the ocean necropolis. They consist of Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff which presents an amazing view.
Being a 8th- century Byzantine church, the Church of St. Nicholas is also important as it used to house the tomb of Saint Nicholas who inspired Santa Clause. Nevertheless, his bones were stolen in 1087 by some merchants from Bari where his bones are still held today.
