For a long time, it was debated whether the ruins in the Çayağzı area of ancient Myra, or Demre as it is known today, belonged to another city; recent research has proven that it was not an independent settlement but a port district of Myra.

The Lycian region owed its wealth to ports and commercial activities. Andriake, like the port of Patara, was one of the most important ports of the ancient Mediterranean. The imperial silos of all Anatolia were built in these two cities. Since 2009, the excavations have yielded a large number of amphora fragments of various foreign origins, showing the intensity of international trade in the port. More importantly, for the first time, a settlement has been uncovered, suggesting a port urbanism. Although most of the remains at Andriake are trade related, the ongoing excavations have also revealed social and religious structures at some distance from the port and the trade zone.

The granarium, agora, cistern, fortifications, baths, waterways, monumental fountains, watchtowers, watch towers, necropolises, the first synagogue in the Anatolian Mediterranean and churches, which prove the importance of the port in the grain trade, are some of the structures you can see here. 

One of the unique discoveries in Andriake is the discovery of Murex / Purple Paint Factory for the first time. Murex is a type of shellfish that was used to make purple dye, which was only used by emperors and the upper classes because it was very rare in ancient times. These crustaceans were brought to Andriake, one of the places where the dye was produced, so much so that the shells left over after production were used in building mortar.

For a long time, it was debated whether the ruins in the Çayağzı area of ancient Myra, or Demre as it is known today, belonged to another city; recent research has proven that it was not an independent settlement but a port district of Myra.