Myra developed in Lycia, the mountainous coastal region of southwestern Anatolia, near the modern town of Demre. Its most conspicuous early remains are rock cut tombs, many dating to the fourth century BCE, whose façades translate elements of timber buildings into stone. Positioned above the settlement, they advertised family status and connected the dead with the landscape. Myra later became an important member of the Lycian League, participating in a regional political organisation while retaining its own civic institutions and local identity.

Under Roman rule, the city benefited from Mediterranean connections and the resources of wealthy benefactors. Its theatre grew into one of the region's substantial public monuments, providing space for performance and civic display. Earthquakes repeatedly affected Lycian towns, and the destructive event of 141 CE prompted rebuilding supported by donors such as Opramoas of Rhodiapolis. These acts of generosity were recorded publicly, linking repairs to prestige. The surviving monuments consequently represent successive campaigns of construction rather than the work of a single prosperous generation.

Myra's access to maritime trade depended on Andriake, its harbour settlement near the river mouth. Warehouses, baths and other structures there reveal a busy environment serving shipping and exchange. A large granary associated with the reign of Hadrian illustrates the importance of storage and provisioning within Roman economic networks. Evidence for a synagogue also contributes to understanding the area's religious diversity. The relationship between inland civic centre and harbour was fundamental, even though visitors often encounter them as separate archaeological destinations today.

Christianity gave Myra a new international significance through the memory of Nicholas, traditionally identified as its fourth century bishop. Later stories greatly enlarged his reputation, so documented history and devotional tradition need to be distinguished. The church associated with him became a major pilgrimage focus during the Byzantine period and underwent repeated rebuilding. In 1087, sailors from Bari carried away relics believed to be his, extending the saint's cult in western Europe. Myra nevertheless retained its own important place in this wider religious geography.

Flooding, sediment accumulation, political instability and changing regional conditions gradually transformed the ancient city. Archaeological investigations have revealed remains buried beneath substantial deposits, demonstrating how much survives beyond the visible theatre and tombs. Modern conservation addresses both monuments and their environmental setting, while nearby Demre continues to develop. Myra's history joins Lycian funerary traditions, Roman civic life and Byzantine pilgrimage within one landscape. Understanding these layers prevents the site from being reduced either to its dramatic cliff façades or to the later fame of Saint Nicholas alone.