Demre

Demre is on the coast of the Teke peninsula, west of the bay of Antalya, with the Taurus Mountains behind. The mountains are forested and the coastal strip is made of good soil brought down by the mountain rivers. The climate is the typical Mediterranean pattern of hot dry summers and warm wet winters.

Before the tourism boom began in the 1980s, the local economy depended on agriculture, which is still important today. The villages of Demre grow pomegranates and citrus fruits and now a large quantity of fruits and vegetables all year round in greenhouses. Also with its rich history, attractions like the island of Kekova, the sea and warm weather, this coast is very popular with holidaymakers from Turkey and all over Europe, although Demre still does not have the high volume of tourists enjoyed by districts nearer Antalya Airport. Some local handicrafts like rug making, and events such as the annual camel wrestling festival bring in extra income.

The local cuisine includes fish and other seafood from the Mediterranean.

File:Unnamed Road, 07570 Kaleüçağız-Demre-Antalya, Turkey - panoramio (12).jpg|Rocky coast in Demre

File:Unnamed Road, 07570 Kaleüçağız-Demre-Antalya, Turkey - panoramio (14).jpg|A view of coastal homes and the castle

File:Ancient Lycian Tombs - 2014.10 - panoramio.jpg|Ancient Lycian Tombs overlooking the coast

File:Unnamed Road, 07570 Kaleüçağız-Demre-Antalya, Turkey - panoramio (11).jpg|Demre Castle

File:Demre - panoramio (6).jpg|A local mosque

Demre has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa),{{Cite journal |title=Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria. |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02549-6/tables/1 |journal=Nature: Scientific Data |language=en}} with very hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Demre (1991–2020)

| Jan high C = 16.4

| Feb high C = 16.7

| Mar high C = 18.7

| Apr high C = 21.9

| May high C = 26.2

| Jun high C = 30.9

| Jul high C = 34.1

| Aug high C = 34.4

| Sep high C = 31.4

| Oct high C = 26.9

| Nov high C = 22.0

| Dec high C = 17.8

| year high C = 24.8

| Jan mean C = 10.6

| Feb mean C = 11.2

| Mar mean C = 13.2

| Apr mean C = 16.3

| May mean C = 20.7

| Jun mean C = 25.3

| Jul mean C = 28.7

| Aug mean C = 29.0

| Sep mean C = 25.5

| Oct mean C = 20.5

| Nov mean C = 15.4

| Dec mean C = 11.9

| year mean C = 19.1

| Jan low C = 5.7

| Feb low C = 5.9

| Mar low C = 7.3

| Apr low C = 10.3

| May low C = 14.6

| Jun low C = 18.6

| Jul low C = 22.4

| Aug low C = 23.1

| Sep low C = 19.3

| Oct low C = 14.6

| Nov low C = 10.0

| Dec low C = 7.0

| year low C = 13.3

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 167.38

| Feb precipitation mm = 115.19

| Mar precipitation mm = 66.25

| Apr precipitation mm = 34.54

| May precipitation mm = 15.83

| Jun precipitation mm = 3.86

| Jul precipitation mm = 1.0

| Aug precipitation mm = 4.72

| Sep precipitation mm = 13.6

| Oct precipitation mm = 71.06

| Nov precipitation mm = 115.96

| Dec precipitation mm = 201.45

| year precipitation mm = 810.84

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 10.8

| Feb precipitation days = 8.6

| Mar precipitation days = 6.3

| Apr precipitation days = 4.3

| May precipitation days = 2.2

| Jun precipitation days = 1.2

| Jul precipitation days = 1.0

| Aug precipitation days = 1.0

| Sep precipitation days = 1.5

| Oct precipitation days = 4.3

| Nov precipitation days = 6.2

| Dec precipitation days = 10.3

| year precipitation days = 57.7

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Turkiye/CSV/KaleDemre_17970.csv

|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Demre

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = January 15, 2024}}

}}

There are 17 neighbourhoods in Demre District:[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Mahalle], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 22 May 2023.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Alakent
• Belören
• Beymelek
• Büyükkum
• Çağman
• Çevreli
• Davazlar
• Gökyazı
• Gürses
• Kaleüçağız
• Kapaklı
• Karabucak
• Kayaaltı
• Köşkerler
• Küçükkum
• Yavu
• Yaylakaya

{{div col end}}

The district has a population of 27,691 (2022). The town itself has 18,268 inhabitants.{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/turkey/antalya/demre/730__demre/|title=Demre|website=citypopulation.de|access-date=13 June 2023}}

See Myra for details of the history and archaeology of the city of Myra (today's Demre) and the history of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Santa Claus).

Myra was one of the most important cities in ancient Lycia. Coins have been found dating back to 300 BC, but logically the city must have been founded centuries earlier. The city thrived as part of the Roman Empire and many public buildings were built.

In February 2021, Akdeniz University researchers led by Nevzat Çevik announced the discovery of dozens of 2,200-year-old terracotta sculptures with inscriptions in Myra. Archaeologists also revealed some material remains of the Hellenistic theater made of ceramic, bronze, lead, and silver. The figurines with partly preserved paint contained the appearances of men, women, cavalry, animals, some Greek deities and the names of artists.{{Cite web|title=Painted Terracotta Figurines Discovered in Turkey - Archaeology Magazine|url=https://www.archaeology.org/news/9426-210205-turkey-terracotta-figurines#:~:text=DEMRE,%20TURKEY%E2%80%94Dozens%20of%20terracotta,to%20a%20Live%20Science%20report.|access-date=2021-02-09|website=www.archaeology.org| date=4 February 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=February 2021|first=Yasemin Saplakoglu-Staff Writer 04|title=Greek gods and ancient mortals 'resurrected' in terracotta figurines discovered in Turkey|url=https://www.livescience.com/terracotta-figurines-discovered-turkey.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=livescience.com|date=4 February 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Figurines found in Myra ancient city|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/figurines-found-in-myra-ancient-city-158174|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=12 September 2020 |language=en}}

• A number of tombs with a particular local style.
• The Roman theatre and other remains of Roman Myra, in the town of Demre.
• Tombs carved into the rocks.
• The church of St Nicholas of Myra, honoring the bishop of Myra and the man popularly known as Santa Claus.
• The antique cities of Andriake and Simena
• A boat trip to the islands and sunken ruins of Kekova.

• {{section link|Saint Nicholas|Myra}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Demre|Demre}}
• {{Wikispecies-inline|Demre|Demre}}
• [http://www.demre.bel.tr/ Demre municipality]
• [http://www.wowturkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8963 Photos from Demre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205085609/http://www.wowturkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8963 |date=2019-12-05 }}

{{Districts of Turkey|provname=Antalya|sortkey=Demre}}

{{Demre District}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Turkish Riviera

Category:Antalya

Category:Former Greek towns in Turkey

Category:Populated places in Antalya Province

Category:Districts of Antalya Province

Category:Lycia

Category:Metropolitan district municipalities in Turkey