The Turkish town of Demre, in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, is currently welcoming thousands of foreign tourists who come to visit the Church Museum of St. Nicholas, where the tomb of this 4th century apostle who died in 345 AD in Myra (present-day Demre) – who would give rise to the legend of Santa Claus – is located.
During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas became popular for defending the poor against the powerful; by the Middle Ages, his story was mixed with Norse legends about Joulupukki, giving rise to the modern myth of Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas. Although visits to the tomb increase these days, Demre welcomes thousands of tourists throughout the year: in 2022, more than 235,000 people visited the site.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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