Myra
Travel Guide in Photos

Myra was one of the six most important cities of ancient Lycia (Xanthos, Patara, Olympos, Pinara, Tlos, and Myra) and by the 4^th century, Myra was important enough to have its own bishops, among whom Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), born in nearby Patara, was the most famous. At the time St. Nicholas was bishop, Myra was also made the capital of the Roman province of Lycia. Subsequent rulers treated Myra well and the city continued to prosper, but in the 7th century decline set in as a result of Arab raids and the silting of the harbor. As a results of further misfortunes caused by more assaults of the Arabs, earthquakes that hit the region, and the flooding of the Myrros stream, the city was largely abandoned.

The ruins of the ancient city of Myra consist of an impressive necropolis and adjacent Roman theatre and are located at about 1.5 km north of present day Demre - Kale. The well preserved Roman theatre of Myra is large with 35 consecutive rows of seats. The facade of the amphitheatre was richly decorated with theatrical masks and mythological scenes. To the west of the theatre the steep cliff is honeycombed with closely packed rock-cut tombs, most of them of the Lycian house-type.

The ancient city of Sura, whose ruins are located 5 km beyond Demre, was important for its fish-oracle of Apollo. There are only a few remains left, the most prominent being a monumental Lycian pilar-tomb dating from the 4th century BC. The tomb was intended for family burial, the owner was placed in the pillar tomb and his family in the chamber underneath.

Andriake, the port of Myra, was founded as a sister-town at about the same time as Myra. It is located in Çayağzı, at about 5 km of the city centre of Demre at the mouth of the Androkos river. Andriace was one of the most important ports of Lycia and it was the port where Saint Paul and his companions Luke and Aristarchos changed ships on their way to Rome. The most important ruin in Andriace is the Granarium or Granary of Hadrian. This impressive and well preserved 65x32 meter building was erected during the reign of Emperor Hadrianus (117-138).

More on Myra and its history is available on the Lycian Turkey site.

Here are the photos of Myra, click on the thumbnails to see greater pictures

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  Myra necropolis with rock-tombs
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  Myra's Necropolis Lycian house-type tombs
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  Theatrrical Masks
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  Theatrical masks
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  Theatrical Masks near Myra's Greco-Roman Theatre
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  Greco-Roman Theatre
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  Myra's Roman Theatre
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  Myra's Roman Theatre
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  Frieze with Theatrical Masks
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  Myra Decoration of Roman Theatre
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  Decoration of Roman Theatre with Theatrical Masks
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  Lycian Pillar Tomb at Sura
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  Lycian Pillar Tomb at Sura
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  Scenery at Sura
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  Lycian Tombs at Sura
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  Scenery near Andriake, Myra's Roman Port
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  Marsh at Çayağzı (Andriake) near Kale (Demre)
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  Nymphaeum at Andriake
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  Andriake
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  Cistern at Andriake
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  Scenery at Andriake
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  Scenery at Andriake
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  Roman Granary at Andriake
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  Granary of Hadrian at Andriake
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  Roman Granary at Andriake
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  Roman Granary at Andriake