Archaeological site of Gortyn is located 45 kilometers south of Heraklion. This area was inhabited from 7000 BC until today. It was an important city, that reach in power level the city of Phaistos with two ports Lentas and Matala. During the Roman period became the capital of Crete and Cyrenaica (Libya). Finally destroyed in 828 AD by Arab invasion.

The area of ancient city reaching 4000 acres, but only a small part of it has excavated and the villages of Agioi Deka, Episkopi and Ampelouzos are built on it.

The main visited monuments of the site are:

  • The church Agios Titos of Gortyn which supposed to be one of the first Christian churches in Crete.
  • The Roman Odeon, which is the most important ancient conservatory of Crete.
  • The law code of Gortyn which supposed to be the most complete and oldest Greek legislation.
  • The exhibition of statues, where located the Roman sculptures.
  • The holy plane tree of Gortyn, under which according to legend, Zeus fell in love with Europe and gave birth to King Minos.
  • The Temple of Apollo.
  • The Temple of Egyptian deities.

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