Myra

Archaeologists in Turkey have made a discovery which could settle a century-old debate … and disappoint millions of children around the world.
They have unearthed what they say is likely the tomb of the original Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, beneath an ancient church in Demre, southern Turkey.

The cross of a 12th century Byzantine chapel, located outside the ancient city of Myra in the southern province of Antalya, has reportedly been stolen. 

Demre District Governor Murat Uz said an investigation has been opened into the theft, and they believe the 20-centimeter long marble cross was stolen in the last three or four days. 

On the weekend of May 13-14, 2017, the transposition of the relics of St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia was celebrated at the hermitage that bears his name in the city of Rättvik, Sweden, located three hours north of Stockholm. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia officiated the service of Great Vespers on Saturday, which was followed by a dinner reception courtesy of Mrs.

The Lycian Civilizations Museum, opened last year in the southern province of Antalya's Demre district, has been displaying artifacts indoors and outside.  

A total of 1009 artifacts unearthed during excavations in the Lycian League cities have been drawing local and foreign tourists to the region. 

Excavations carried out for more than 100 years by the Austrian Archaeology Institute in the ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey have been cancelled two months before scheduled this season, through a decision by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. 

The hairstyles of ancient-era women, who lived 2,400 years ago, were the same as modern-era women, with some daring to be even more extraordinary Findings obtained during the Myra archaeological excavations carried out by Mediterranean University revealed Lycian women hairstyles 2,400 years ago were the same as today. 

This year's excavation works have begun in the ancient site of Myra and the Andriake Port situated in Demre district of Turkey's southern resort province of Antalya. 

Six of the most important ancient sites of the Lycian Union lie in this area, where excavations kicked off in 2009. 

In the southern province of Antalya, one of the most important cities of the Lycian Union, the ancient city of Andriake, has been partially opened to visits. Andriake was the harbor of another ancient city of Myra and is located in what is now the Demre district of Antalya.

The Santa Claus (Noel Baba) Museum and the ancient city of Myra, located in the southern province of Antalya's Demre district, received half as many visitors and revenues in January year-on-year.

One the most visited places in Antalya and its vicinity, the Santa Claus Museum, received 9,483 visitors and earned 93,120 Turkish Liras in January 2014.

The Santa Claus Museum in Antalya's Demre is the most visited place by tourists, especially the French, in the whole region. It is followed by the ancient city of Myra In the first nine months of 2014, 2.6 million Turkish and foreign people visited the ancient sites in the southern province of Antalya. It is expected that this figure reached 2.8 million by the end of the year.