Aziz (St.) Nikolaos Memorial Museumvisitor guide.

FINAL RESTING PLACE OF ST. NICHOLAS Born in Patara and passing away in Myra where he was Bishop, Saint Nicholas—better known as 'Santa Claus'—awaits visitors in the memorial church built in his name. It is believed Santa Claus entered his eternal sleep in this sacred place. HIS BONES WERE TAKEN TO BARI Born in 300 AD as the son of a wealthy wheat merchant in Patara, an important port city hosting the Lycian League Assembly, Saint Nicholas was considered the patron saint of children and sailors. He became Bishop of Myra within Demre and was believed to have passed away on December 6, 365, at age 65. After Ottoman rule arrived in the region, during the Crusades, merchants arriving from Bari, Italy stole his bones and buried them in the basilica built in his name in Bari. MIRACLES ARE DEPICTED ON THE CHURCH WALLS Built by Myrans for Saint Nicholas, known as 'Saint of Miracles', and repaired across various periods, the church walls depict miracles believed to have been performed by Saint Nicholas. Inside the church, a Roman sarcophagus adorned with fish scales and acanthus leaves is thought to belong to Santa Claus resting in eternal sleep. In addition, bone fragments believed to belong to Saint Nicholas are displayed at Antalya Museum. WHILE YOU ARE HERE... Visiting the Museum of Lycian Civilizations housed within Andriake, the ancient port city of Myra, you can embark on a historic journey across carpets of sea shells left by murex purple-dye workshops. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS OLYMPOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE MYRA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PERGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PATARA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PHASELIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SIDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE