The island that gives its name to the region is a sizeable island that stretches in front of the village of Kale. Boats can settle in the shipyard Bay located at the end. Here you can see the apse of a church belonging to the Byzantine period. Because there was no excavation, this island, whose history we do not know, is full of ruins. According to the shipyard Bay, on the right side you can see the shops submerged in the sea and on the left side you can see the ruins of the sunken city in the water. As we follow the shore, we can see that half the houses are submerged in the water and the stairs go down to the sea. It is also possible to see foundations and home bases in the sea.
Church Of Santa Claus
When the church or chapel built when St. Nicholas died was destroyed in zelzele in 529, a larger, perhaps Basilica-type church was built. Peschlow estimates that the majority of the north side nave of the present building, with two small spaces with equal apses on the south side of the great APSE, belongs to this first structure. This church is VIII. it was destroyed in the century by zelzele or Arab incursions, and then renovated again. In 1034, it was devastated by the raids of the Arab Navy from the sea. The church, which remained in ruins for ten years, was built in 1042 by the Byzantine Emperor IX. It is understood from its inscription that it was repaired by Constantine Monomachos and his wife Zoe.
XII. in the century, some additions were made to the building, and the church was repaired again. XIII. in Myra, which fell into the hands of the Turks in the century, we understand that he used the church for free worship, and some repairs were made in the church. In 1738, the chapel next to the Great church was repaired. 1833-1837 C. Texier also visited Myra and mentioned the church in her books. About ten years after that, in March 1842, Lieutenant Spratt and Prof. Forbes also came to Myra, made a sketch of the church, and saw that there was a monastery next to the church. In 1853, during the Crimean War, the Russians took care of the church and bought land in the name of a Russian countess named Anna Golicia to establish a Russian colony here. But when the Ottoman State realized the political aspect of the work, it took back the lands that the Russians had taken, and only the requests for repairs of the church were accepted. Thus, in 1862, a Frenchman named August Salzmann was tasked with the repair of the Church of Nicholas. These restorations were done so badly that they destroyed the original church. During this restoration, the bell tower, seen today, was added in 1876. There are about two thousand churches dedicated to Santa Claus, the patron saint of many cities.
His life story and miracles have appeared in many books, but the oldest was written by Michael, Abbot of the Stadion Monastery in Byzantion between 750-800. IV. to the south of the single-domed church, located here in the century VIII. in the century, additions were also made to the north side with a cruciform Chapel. In addition, in 1862-63, some parts of the outer narthex and inner narthex were added to the building. From a courtyard with two columns standing today, one or two steps descend to the southern nave, which was added in the Byzantine period. In the eastern part of this cruciform section is an apse with three arched windows. The original stylobate in front of the APSE and the altar pedestal in the middle are still visible. In the niche of the apse, there are figures of saints whose colors have disappeared and become ambiguous. The fresco in the small niche below them belongs to Santa Claus. Mosaic boards in different patterns can be seen at the bases of this section and the Southeast Chapel of the main church.
In the niche opposite the stairs in the west direction, there are frescoes of Jesus, Mary and John. From here, a well-preserved door leads us to the part where the sarcophagi are located, that is, to the long part of the cruciform Chapel. Frescoes in niches containing sarcophagi are decorated with frescoes containing various depictions of saints, even if they are not clearly visible today. The first niche on the north wall and the Fresco of Mary on the columns are interesting examples. It is understood from his writings that the second niche column, where the Santa Claus fresco was located, was placed upside down. Of the sarcophagi in the niches, the sarcophagus of the Roman era decorated with acarthus leaves in the first niche is considered to belong to Santa Claus. It is even said that the sarcophagus is decorated with fish stamp patterns because Santa Claus is also a saint of sailors. On April 20, 1087, Bari Pirates broke the sarcophagus to get the bones of Santa Claus, taking some bones and taking them to Bari. The second niche and the sarcophagi in the opposite niche are simple. Apart from the sarcophagi in the niches, there are two other tombs here. From here, a door leads to the courtyard of the church, which is paved with large block slabs. In the courtyard, there are two graves emptied in a niche. The cross and anchor motif on the marble next to it must have been made for Santa Claus. The inscription on the grave placed in the wall on the left shows the date 1118. Before the courtyard, the outer narthex, then the inner narthex, which opens to the main space (naos) with three doors, is passed. This place is decorated with frescoes depicting bishops in groups. The main space passing through here opens to the side nave with three arches. To the south of the main space are two Naves. Although the sarcophagus in the niche in the second nave is said to be the Tomb of Santa Claus, the relief of the woman and man on it indicates that this is not the case. In the niche opposite the side nave is another tomb. In the dome of the North nave, the Prophet. Frescoes of Jesus and the 12 apostles are found. The side nave is being excavated. In the western part of the Nave, where this excavation was carried out, there are three rooms. In the middle of the building, there should have been a dome with windows and pulleys, while Salzmann closed the top of the space during his repairs, using a large cross vault with cut stone ribs
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