The ancient city of Myra, located a few kilometers out of Demre, was one of the earliest Lycian cities. Demre is the modern-day site of the city of Myra, where St Nicholas (Santa Claus) was bishop in the 4th century, and the ruins of which include a theatre dating from the 2nd century BC. Demre continues to be overlooked by a spooky looking cliff face carved with many Lycian rock tombs.
History of Myra Although according to ancient sources the name of Myra only goes back as early as 1C BC, the inscriptions or coins found imply that it must have been from the 5C BC. Myra was always one of the most important cities in Lycia, and during the Hellenistic period was one of the six cities in the Lycian League that had the maximum quota of three votes at meetings of the federation.
In the Byzantine period Myra was a prominent city and during the reign of Theodosius II Myra became the capital of Lycia. However, in the Turkish period it was abandoned.
The Site The ruins consist mainly of a theater and some of the best examples of L ycian rock-cut tombs. The rest of the city has not been excavated yet. The acropolis, as expected, is at the top of the hill. In early Christianity, 60 AD., St. Paul met with his followers here on his way to Rome.
The Roman Theater is well preserved. In the center of the two-meter-high wall (6.5 ft) backing the diazoma, near the stairs leading to the upper rows is a figure of Tyche, the Goddess of fortune, with an inscription "Victory and good fortune to the city beneath". The stage building, like in all Roman theaters, is very ornate.
The 4C BC Rock-cut Tombs, some with temple facades and beautifully carved reliefs representing the dead and their families or warriors, are among the most fascinating remains of Anatolia. Inscriptions are usually in Lycian.
Saint Nicholas was born in Patara and became the bishop of the Christian

church of Myra, in Lycia, about whom little is known with certainty. His fame as a gift bringer derives from the time when he heard of a bankrupt merchant who could find no dowry for his three daughters. Unseen, he thew three bags of gold into the merchant's house down the chimney and by luck they fell into the girls stockings that were drying by the fire. From this grew the legend of secret present giving. The story provides the foundation for the custom, still practiced in many countries, of giving gifts in celebration of the saints day, which was December 6. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children and sailors. Variations of his name range from Sant Nikolaas to Sinter Klaas to Santa Claus; he is known as Father Christmas in England, Grandfather Frost in Russia, Pere Noel in France and Saint Nick in the United States.
St. Nicholas was buried in a tomb outside the city of Myra although his bones were stolen in A.D. 1087 by sailors from Bari, Italy. However, the Venetians also claim to have the bones of the saint, as do the Russians and the Antalya museum.

St. Nicholas Church - Demre, Antalya