Christmas countdown fuels debate over location of St Nicholas's grave
Theologians say his remains are in Italy but Turkish officials say they are under St Nicholas church in Antalya where he lived
Kareem Shaheen in Demre
Fri 22 Dec ‘17 00.00 EST
The real hometown of Santa Claus is nothing like the North Pole. It is a two-hour drive from the city of Antalya, along a coastal road in Turkey nestled between the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean and, in the distance, the imposing Taurus mountains.
There, in the town of Demre – called Myra in antiquity – lived St Nicholas, celebrated by Christians as a gift-giver.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/22/christmas-countdown-fuels-debate-over-location-of-st-nicholass-grave