Ancient city of Myra hosts Swedish choir

ANTALYA - Anatolia News Agency

The Swedish Ramsberg Choir performed a friendship concert in the ancient city of Myra amphitheater, which will be totally excavated by 2015, according to officials. AA photo

Myra, an ancient city in the southern province of Antalya’s Demre district, played host to its first Turkey-Sweden Friendship concert on May 19.

The Ramsberg Choir, which was formed 70 years ago in the Swedish city of the same name, performed at the event to promote the site, which is still being excavated.

Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay made a speech before the concert in the ancient city’s amphitheater and said there had been significant developments in Demre in recent years and that work was continuing to make Myra a site known around the world.

The front part of the theater came to light during excavations in the amphitheater, Günay said, adding that the whole theater would be revealed by 2015 at the latest.

Günay said Demre’s attraction was not limited to its amphitheater and nearby rock tombs but featured a number of sites.

“My dream is to make Demre one of the most special centers of tourism in the world,” adding that he hoped to make the town his home once he finishes his political career.

The minister said they would also start working on a Lycian Civilization Museum in the ancient city in the near future.

The Ramsberg concert was also attended by Swedish Consul General to Istanbul Torkel Stiernlöf.