Antalya is one of the popular vacation destination in Mediterranean coast Turkey. Towns of Antalya such as Kemer, Belek, Alanya, Side offers beautiful golden sand beaches, amazing nature, luxurious hotels and more.

But the most of people wants to visit Antalya because of Santa Claus Museum Demre. Demre -the town of Antalya- is famous for St. Nicholas known as Santa Claus.

Demre is Lycian town of Myra in history and now it is town of Antalya.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, also known as “Santa Claus” who was born in Patara and lived in Myra where he was a bishop.

Although we associate Santa Claus with snow, he actually lived in the Mediterranean.

St. Nicholas Church

Saint Nicholas, regarded as the guardian of children and sailors, became the Bishop of Myra and he died on 6th December, 365 AD when he was 65 years old. After the death of Saint Nicholas, who was believed to be the savior of the poor, protector of sailors and students, the people of Myra built a church in his name; St. Nicholas Church. And they put it in the sarcophagus inside. The respected religious personality of Saint Nicholas enabled him to become a saint after his death. The tradition of Santa Claus, the protector and delight of children, has been integrated with the belief of St. Nicholas, led to the creation of a popular legendary type over time.

As Saint Nicholas, his icon was hanged on all small and large boats, especially by the Eastern Mediterranean sailors who respected him.

Italian sailors from Bari seized part of the remains of the saint from his burial church in Myra, they brought the remains to Bari. He was buried in Basilica di San Nicola.

The Roman sarcophagus inside the church, is thought to belong to the Santa Claus, who fell into his forever sleep. Also, bones that are believed to belong to St. Nicholas are exhibited the Antalya Museum.

St. Nicholas was known as the saint of Miracles.

The miracles believed to have been performed by him, were drawn on the walls of the church which was built by the people of Myra on behalf of St. Nicholas.

History of St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church, an important monument of Byzantine art history, is the most distinguished example of the Middle Byzantine Period with its architectural style and decoration. After the death of St. Nicholas, the church was repaired as it was damaged, so it bears traces of different periods.

The church was buried under the ground as a result of the floods of the Demre (Myros) Stream over time, and it was unearthed as a result of excavations in 1956.

Every year on December 6, many visitors from the Christian Orthodox sect come to Demre to commemorate the death of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) and a well-attended ceremony is held. St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) Museum has been open to visitors since 1994.

If you are going to Antalya, you should definitely visit the Santa Claus Museum in Demre, which is open every day. While you are Demre, you can also visit the Lycian Civilisations Museum, which is in Andiriake, the Harbor City of Myra.