Demre / Myra
Túmulo de São Nicolau na Myra bizantina do século V
Por que este destino é importante
São Nicolau de Myra (c. 270–343 d.C.), nascido na vizinha Patara, serviu como bispo de Myra e participou do Primeiro Concílio de Niceia (325). Para os cristãos ortodoxos orientais, ele é Hagios Nikolaos, o Taumaturgo, um dos santos mais venerados de todos os tempos.
Para os católicos, suas relíquias foram levadas a Bari em 9 de maio de 1087 e estão lá até hoje na Basílica di San Nicola. Fragmentos menores estão em Veneza e no Museu Arqueológico de Antalya.
Hoje Demre – uma pequena cidade agrícola cercada de ruínas lícias – atrai peregrinos de todas as confissões. Em 2024, um sarcófago selado e uma capela do século XIII foram descobertos sob a igreja.
Contexto histórico
Myra was one of the six leading cities of the Lycian League, a federal union of 23 cities that flourished from the 3rd century BC. By the 4th century AD it had become the seat of a Christian bishopric, and its most famous bishop, Nicholas, attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The city's prosperity continued through the Byzantine period, evidenced by the 5th-century basilica built over Nicholas's tomb and the extensive rock-cut necropolis.
The translation of Nicholas's relics to Bari in 1087 marked a turning point. As Seljuk forces advanced into Anatolia, 62 Bari sailors seized approximately 75 percent of the saint's remains and carried them to Italy, where Pope Urban II consecrated the crypt in 1089. The remaining fragments were taken by Venetian Crusaders around 1099 to San Nicolo del Lido. Despite the empty tomb, Demre continued to attract Orthodox pilgrims, and the church remained a place of veneration through the Ottoman period.
The 2024 archaeological discovery of a sealed limestone sarcophagus and a 13th-century chapel beneath the church floor has reignited scholarly debate about whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains — or whether the primary tomb was never fully emptied. The Antalya Directorate of Archaeology continues conservation work, and the find has not yet been opened publicly.
Principais locais para visitar
Church of Saint Nicholas
5th-century Byzantine basilica with sunken nave, broken sarcophagus and opus sectile floors. 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus and 13th-century chapel beneath the church.
Myra Ancient City
Lycian rock-cut tombs and a 10,000-seat Roman theatre on a single dramatic cliff face.
Andriake / Lycian Civilizations Museum
The ancient port of Myra where Paul changed ships en route to Rome (Acts 27:5-6).
Kekova sunken city
Byzantine ruins partly submerged after a 2nd-century earthquake; standard glass-bottom boat trip from Ucagiz.
Demre Santa statue
Town-centre bronze of Saint Nicholas with children.
Melhor época para visitar
Abril–maio e setembro–outubro (22–28°C). No dia 6 de dezembro, Divina Liturgia ortodoxa. Evitar julho–agosto.
Principais dias de festa
- December 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas (Orthodox liturgy at the church)
Como chegar
Aeroporto de Antalya (AYT), 150 km / 2,5 horas pela estrada litorânea D400. Ônibus diretos da garagem de Antalya saem diariamente para Demre.
Clima por mês
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | High | Low |
| Feb | 16°C | 7°C | High | Low |
| Mar | 18°C | 8°C | Medium | Low |
| Apr | 22°C | 11°C | Low | Medium |
| May | 26°C | 15°C | Low | Medium |
| Jun | 31°C | 19°C | Very Low | Medium |
| Jul | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Aug | 34°C | 22°C | Very Low | High |
| Sep | 31°C | 19°C | Low | Medium |
| Oct | 26°C | 15°C | Medium | Medium |
| Nov | 21°C | 11°C | High | Low |
| Dec | 17°C | 8°C | High | High (Dec 6 feast) |
Onde se hospedar
Demre oferece pousadas simples e autênticas. Kaş (40 km a leste) é um porto de hotéis boutique. Kalkan (45 km a oeste) é mais sofisticado. A Baía de Kekova é a mais isolada.
| Tier | Examples | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Demre town guesthouses, family-run pansiyons | 25-50 EUR/night | Pilgrims on a budget, authentic local experience |
| Mid-Range | Kas boutique hotels (40 km), Kalkan harbour hotels (45 km) | 60-120 EUR/night | Comfortable base with restaurant choice |
| Premium | Kalkan villa rentals, Kekova bay exclusive resorts | 150-400 EUR/night | Luxury pilgrimage with sea views and privacy |
Tours e experiências
Excursões de um dia de Antalya, Kemer ou Kaş combinam a igreja, as ruínas de Myra e um passeio de barco em Kekova (60–90 EUR). Passeios bíblicos de vários dias pela Turquia e pacotes de peregrinação para o dia 6 de dezembro também disponíveis.
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Practical information
- Hours
- 08:30–19:00 abril–outubro; 08:30–17:00 novembro–março.
- Fees
- Igreja de São Nicolau aprox. 17 EUR / 400 TL; Myra aprox. 13 EUR / 400 TL. Passe de Museus turco aceito. Preços 2026 – verificar em muze.gov.tr.
- Dress code
- Roupa modesta; cobrir ombros e joelhos na igreja. Sem flash.
- Accessibility
- Rampa na entrada da igreja; complexo majoritariamente plano. Ruínas de Myra têm escadas irregulares.
- Transport
- Ônibus interurbano direto da garagem de Antalya (~2,5 h) ou carro alugado pela D400.
Dicas para peregrinos
💡 Dicas para peregrinos
- Arrive at the Church of Saint Nicholas before 09:00 to avoid tour bus crowds, especially in peak season.
- Combine Demre with a Kekova boat trip — the glass-bottom boats reveal submerged Byzantine ruins and the trip includes a seafood lunch on board.
- Bring a small candle to light at the church; the candle stand is in the narthex and donations support the site's upkeep.
- If visiting on December 6, arrive the night before — the Orthodox Divine Liturgy begins before sunrise and space inside the sunken nave is extremely limited.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip — the Myra rock tombs involve uneven stone steps and the theatre has steep seating.
- Carry Turkish lira in cash for smaller sites, local restaurants, and the church donation box — card acceptance is limited outside Kas and Kalkan.
Você sabia?
ℹ️ Você sabia?
- The broken sarcophagus in the south aisle of the church is traditionally identified as Nicholas's original tomb — but the 2024 discovery of a sealed sarcophagus beneath the floor has reopened the question of whether the Bari sailors took the correct remains.
- The church's sunken nave is the result of centuries of silt deposition from the Demre River — the original 5th-century floor is approximately 2 metres below the current ground level.
- Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, children, merchants, and repentant thieves — and is venerated by Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox Christians alike.
- The Lycian rock-cut tombs above Myra's theatre date from the 4th century BC and were painted in bright red, blue, and gold — traces of pigment are still visible on some facades.
Biblical references
- Acts 27:5-6 — “When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard.”
Leitura sugerida antes de partir
| Title / Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Acts 27:5-6 | Paul's stop at Myra en route to Rome — the only biblical mention of the city. |
| The Life and Miracles of Saint Nicholas (various hagiographies) | The medieval Greek and Latin lives of the saint, including the grain ships miracle and the three dowries. |
| Charles W. Jones, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan (1978) | The definitive scholarly study of the Nicholas cult and the 1087 translation. |
| Turkish Ministry of Culture — Myra-Andriake | Official site for current excavation updates, including the 2024 sarcophagus discovery. |
Nearby destinations to combine
Patara
Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
70 km east — Birthplace of Saint Nicholas and Lycian federal capital
Ephesus
House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and the First Church of Revelation
350 km northwest — House of the Virgin Mary and Basilica of St John
Cappadocia
Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
650 km northeast — Rock-hewn churches of the Cappadocian Fathers
Incluído nestas rotas
- Footsteps of Saint Paul — Tarsus to Rome - the missionary journeys of the Apostle
- Nicholas of Myra — Patara - Demre - Bari: the millennium pilgrimage of Saint Nicholas
Partner accommodation
Alkan Apart Demre
A full-service apart-hotel in the heart of Demre town, steps from the Church of Saint Nicholas and within easy reach of the Myra rock-tombs and Andriake harbour.
Full kitchen · Free parking · Free Wi-Fi · Families & groups welcome
Gökyazı, İlkokul 3. Sokak, 07570 Demre/Antalya
Frequently asked questions
Names in other languages
| Turkish | Demre / Noel Baba Kilisesi |
|---|---|
| Greek | Mura / Agios Nikolaos |
| German | Myra / Nikolauskirche |
| Russian | Miry Likiyskie / Tserkov Svyatogo Nikolaya |
| French | Myre / Eglise Saint-Nicolas |
| Italian | Mira / San Nicola |