St. Nicholas Church, Demre

Antalya Province, Turkey

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey, is a Byzantine basilica constructed in the 6th century under the Roman Emperor Justinian the Great. Built above the burial site of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop of Myra, the church served as a state church of the Roman Empire and remained in active use until local Greeks departed in 1922. Saint Nicholas, venerated as an important religious figure in both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, became the historical inspiration for Santa Claus. The basilica now functions as a museum and appears on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage Site list.