On this tour to Myra and the sunken city of Kekova, we'll explore three of the most fascinating places on the Turquoise Coast. Also, we'll visit the tomb of Santa Claus, or rather, of the figure behind his inspiration.
Myra & Kekova + St. Nicholas Church Tour
At 8 am, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Kemer. Ready to discover the most fascinating places along the Turquoise Coast? On our way to our first destination, we'll drive through the Taurus Mountains, which mark the southern limit of the Anatolian plateau, until we reach the so-called Turkish Riviera.
Once we arrive there, we'll hop on a boat and sail to the sunken city of Kekova. This uninhabited island conceals under its waters the remains of an ancient Lycian city that ended up sunk by an earthquake. We'll see some of the archaeological vestiges that today lie below the surface, such as the funerary monuments of Simena.
Next, we'll step off the boat and travel on land to Myra, another ancient Lycian city known for its stone-carved tombs. We'll visit its necropolis, its Roman theater, and its amphitheater. Then we'll continue on to the church of St. Nicholas, located in the neighboring village of Demre. Here lies buried none other than Santa Claus.
But don't worry, our beloved Santa will still be coming down our chimney next Christmas Eve with his present bag. The one whose remains really rest in this tomb is St. Nicholas, the saint who inspired the figure of Father Christmas.
After all these sightseeing stops, you'll probably have worked up an appetite, right? don't worry, we'll now go to a local restaurant in Demre to enjoy a varied buffet lunch. Lastly, we'll hop on a bus to Kemer and drop you off at your hotel at around 5 pm.
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