During our three-week holiday to Crete, (see our blog post here for what else we got up to), we did a day trip to Gortyna, which is located about an hour south of Heraklion. Gortyna has various remains of an ancient city spread out across a big area- and there is quite a lot to see, from temples to theatres, and a visit to the nearby Acropolis really shows you how big the city was.
This blog post gives you some basic information- on how to get there, what to expect, as well as some of the highlights of Gortyna. We would really recommend a trip there for anyone interested in history or archaeology, and overall for anyone wanting a great day out.
Getting to Gortyna
Getting to Gortyna is rather straight forward- it is located around 50km from Heraklion, and is well sign posted, with a good sized car-park. There is an enclosed area which contains the key attractions, as well as a shop, cafe, and a few other things to see.
Other remains are located outside the main site and can be seen across the road, and here you can find other temples etc. We would suggest parking at the main archaelogical site, and walking around and exploring the area. Do keep an eye out for an ancient olive tree just opposite the main entrance- the tree is around 1600 years old, and just highlights the age of the city.
The visit to the main area is paid for- but tickets were around 4 euros each, and well worth the visit.
The history of Gortyna
Gortyna at one point was actually one of the most powerful states of Crete, and in the Roman times specifically, it was the largest city on the island and the capital. The area itself was inhabited much prior to that- and some excavations have found items belonging to the Minoan era, with some perhaps even prior to that. After the Minoan era, the city began to increase in prominence, and became an important commerical center. One of the most interesting things you’ll see in your visit here is the Code of Gortyna- this is the oldest and most complete known artefact of ancient Greek law. To find out more about the Code of Cordyna- read here.
The Law of Gortyna, found in the Odeon, Gortyna, Crete
The Church of St Titos is incredible, and as you can see from the photos, it is striking and grand. It is yet more impressive that the apse (the semi-circualar part) is still standing and survived, especially given the church is believed to have been built in the sixth century.
The Odeon and the Church of St Titos
Once you enter the main site, you can spend quite a bit of time walking around and exploring the remains- the most prominent and impressive of these are the church of St Titos and the Odeon. There are also various sculptures you can see dotted around which really demonstrate how grand the town was previously.
The apse in the church of St Titos
Behind the church, you can find the Odeon (a theatre), and you can still make out the semi-circular seats and overall structure. The most interesting and important important thing to see here it the law code, and you can clearly make out the engraved code on some of the stones as you can see from the photos above.
Other things to see in Grotyna
As well as walking around the fenced area which houses the Odeon and Chuch of St Titos, you can cross the road and explore the various temples, theatres and also the Praetorium. These are still signposted, but you cannot get as close to the ruins as they are behind a fence.
As you walk around, you can see a lot of various remains- including marble columns, pottery, steps etc. but some imagination is needed.
Acropolis of Gortyna
Once you have finished exploring Gortyna, you can drive to the Acropolis of Gortyna, which is located a short distance away.
This area is much more wild, and there are limited signs around. Also- a word of warning: the hill is not the easiest (especially in the middle of the day!), but the views are certainly worth while. You can also make out the remains of some defensive walls which are still very prominent.
The acropolis is not as big as the main site, but does provide some impressive views over Gortyna.
To find out more what else to get up to in Crete, check out our other blog posts here. Whether you are into hiking, sunbathing, or eating delicious food, there is so much to see and do here!
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