Myra

These are the ruins of an ancient city in Lycia, near the modern town of Demre in the province of Antalya in southwestern Turkey. Myra was once one of the largest Lycian cities and even the capital of a Roman province.

The main star is a well-preserved ancient theater. Nearby are rock-hewn tombs with carved faces that look like a stone residential complex for ancestors.

The same Nicholas was a bishop here during the time of Diocletian and Constantine. There is a church named after him in nearby Demre, and the saint's relics were taken to Italian Bari in 1087.

In the 7th century, the river swept everything with silt, and Arab raids were added on top. Such a combination is not beneficial to anyone, so Mira gradually emptied herself.

Yes, the Church of St. Nicholas remains a place of pilgrimage, and services are held twice a year. The rest of the time here is dominated by archeology and tourists.