The ancient city of Demre Mira can truly be called the pearl of Turkey. This unique area, which has preserved the great buildings of antiquity and reflects the rich history of the country, is undoubtedly popular with travelers. In addition, the most valuable Christian monument – the Church of St. Nicholas-is located here. Therefore, if you are going on vacation to Turkey, be sure to include Demre Mira in your list of must-see attractions. Well, what kind of city it is and how to get to it, you will be prompted by the information from our article.
General information
The small town of Demre with an area of 471 square kilometers is located in the south-west of Turkey. It is located 150 km from Antalya and 157 km from ancient Lycian Fethiye. The population of Demre does not exceed 26 thousand people. It is 5 km away from the Mediterranean coast. Until 2005, this city was called Calais, and today it is often called Mira, which is not entirely true. After all, Mira is an ancient city (or rather ruins), which is located near Demre.
Today, Demre in Turkey is a modern tourist resort, where people come primarily for history and knowledge, and not for a beach holiday, although travelers quite manage to combine these two activities. As with the entire Mediterranean coast, this area is characterized by a warm climate, in which the summer temperature varies between 30-40 °C.
The Demre area is a unique combination of traces of an ancient civilization, spectacular mountain landscapes and azure sea waters.
Its pearl is the ancient World, where during the high season numerous sightseeing buses arrive daily, collecting tourists from all corners of the resort Turkey.
Ancient City of the World
What is so unique and attractive about the ancient World in Turkey? To answer this question, it is important to get acquainted with the history of the city and explore its attractions.Historical background
At the moment, there are several versions of the origin of the name “Mira”. The first version suggests that the name of the city came from the word “myrrh”, meaning the resin from which church incense was made. The second version says that the name is associated with the ancient Lycian language, from which “mira” is translated as the city of the sun.
It is impossible to name the exact period of the city’s formation, but it is known that the first mentions of the World date back to the 4th century BC. e. Then it was part of the prosperous Lycian state and even at one time acted as its capital. During this very period, unique buildings were built in the city, which are so popular among tourists today. Although many structures were damaged by an earthquake that occurred in the 2nd century AD, the Lycians managed to completely restore them.
During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the Lycian League was attacked by the Roman army, and as a result, its territories came under Roman rule. With their arrival, Christianity began to spread here. It was in Mir that Nicholas the Wonderworker, who held the position of city bishop for more than four decades in the 4th century, began his journey. In his honor, the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre was built, which anyone can visit today.
Until the 9th century, ancient Mira remained a thriving Roman city and religious center, but soon the Arabs descended and subjugated these lands to their power. And in the 12th century, the Seljuks (a Turkic people who later mixed with the Turkish Ottomans) visited here and seized the Lycian territories, including Mira.
On a note! What sights to see in the Old City of Antalya, we tell you on this page with photos.
Ancient Mira Attractions
The city of Demre in Turkey is visited in order to see the famous Lycian tombs and a huge amphitheater, which are located in the World. Let’s take a closer look at each attraction.
Lycian tombs
The north-western slope of the mountain that frames Demre has become home to the famous ruins of Lycian tombs. The object is a wall with a height of more than 200 meters, built from cyclopean stone blocks, where numerous ancient tombs are located. Some of them are built in the form of houses, others go deep into the rock and have doorways and window openings. Many tombs are more than 2,000 years old.
The Lycians believed that after death, a person flies far away to heaven. And so they believed that the higher the burial is made from the ground, the faster the soul will be able to get to heaven. As a rule, at the very top of the mountain, nobles and rich people were buried, and at the bottom, tombs were arranged for the less well-off inhabitants of Lycia. To this day, this monument preserves intricate Lycian inscriptions, the meaning of many of which remains a mystery.
Please note! This area is home to one of the most popular and beautiful hiking trails in the world — the Lycian Trail. What you can see on his way and how to properly prepare for the campaign is described in this article.
Amphitheater
Not far from the tombs is another ancient structure – the Greco-Roman amphitheater, which was built in the 4th century AD.Before the arrival of the Romans in Lycia, the Greeks ruled its territory and it was they who erected this classic theater building. Over the course of its history, the structure has been repeatedly destroyed by natural elements, such as an earthquake or flood, but it has always been rebuilt again. When the state was conquered by the Romans, they made their own changes to the building of the amphitheater, and that is why today it is considered Greco-Roman.
The theater is designed for 10 thousand spectators. In ancient times, grandiose theatrical performances and gladiatorial fights were held here. The building has such excellent acoustics that you can even hear whispers from the stage. Today, the amphitheater has become a favorite attraction of ancient Mira.
Practical information
- Visit the ancient ruins of the World every day from 9: 00 to 19: 00.
- An entrance ticket to the historic complex costs $6.5 per person.
- The cost of parking in the parking lot at the attraction is $1.5.
- The ancient city is located 1.4 km northeast of Demre.
- You can get here either by public transport-regular dolmush, following in the direction of Demre-Mira, or by taxi.
- Near the attraction there are several souvenir shops, cafes and eateries.
- The minimum price for renting a double room in the city center per night varies from $40-45.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
In the period from 300 to 343, the chief bishop of Myra was St. Nicholas, who is also called the Wonderworker or Saint. First of all, he is known as a conciliator of enemies, a patron of innocent convicts, a defender of sailors and children. According to ancient writings, Nicholas the Wonderworker, who once lived on the territory of present-day Demre, secretly brought gifts to children at Christmas. That is why he became the prototype of the well-known Santa Claus.
After his death, the bishop’s remains were buried in a Roman sarcophagus, which was placed in a specially built church for better preservation. In the 11th century, some of the relics were stolen by Italian merchants and taken to Italy, but they did not manage to take all the remains. Over the centuries, the temple went underground to a depth of more than 4 meters and was excavated by archaeologists only centuries later.
Today, any traveler can honor the Saint’s memory by visiting the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Demre in Turkey. The most important attraction of the church is the sarcophagus of St. Nicholas, where a part of his relics was previously kept, which was later transferred to the Antalya Museum. Also in the temple you can admire the ancient frescoes, which, despite their impressive age (10 centuries), have been preserved relatively well. On the floor, you can still see fragments of a mosaic paved with different stones. Archaeologists are inclined to believe that the mosaic was in the temple before the arrival of St. Nicholas in the city of Demre.
Interesting fact! The main hall of the temple is designed so that even whispers can be clearly heard in it.
Tourists who have visited here note that the church is in a neglected state and needs to be reconstructed as soon as possible. But so far, the question of restoration remains open.
- St. Nicholas Church in Demre in Turkey is open daily from 9: 00 to 19: 00 in high season. During the period from November to March, the property is open from 8: 30 to 17: 00.
- The entrance fee to the church is $9. Children under 12 years old are free of charge. Additionally, you can get an audio guide for $4.8.
Not far from the church there are several shops where you can buy icons, crosses and other goods.
How to get to Demre from Antalya
If you decide to visit Mira in Turkey by leaving Antalya on your own, then you have only two options to get to the city:
- By intercity bus. To do this, you need to arrive at the main bus station of Antalya (Otogar) and buy a ticket to Demre. The journey time will be about two and a half hours. The bus will arrive at the bus station in Demre, located next to the Church of St. Nicholas.
- By rented car. Follow the D 400 highway from Antalya, which will take you to your destination.
If a self-guided tour to Mira is not your option, then you can always go to the city together with a group tour. Almost all travel agencies offer the Demre-Mira-Kekova tour, during which you will visit the ancient city, the church and the sunken ruins of Kekova. The cost of the tour will cost no less than $50 from a hotel guide, and 15-20% cheaper than this price in local Turkish offices.
Conclusion
The ancient city of Demre Mira is certainly one of the most valuable historical monuments in Turkey. It will be interesting even for those who have never been interested in ancient buildings. Therefore, when you are in the country, do not spare your time and visit this unique complex.
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