The archaeological site of Gortys is located 45 km south from Heraklion near to the Minoan palace of Phaistos, in the valley of Messara. It was an ancient city with important influence in the area and great power.

According to the myth, the city was founded from Gortys, the son of Radamanthys, king of Phaistos and brother of Minos, who gave his name to it. Findings in the location of the city show human occupation from Neolithic era ( 7000 BC), but it was first inhabited around 3000 BC. During Minoan period, Gortys surpassed the prominence of the city of Phaistos, which was the most significant city on Crete. Later, during Roman period it was the capital of Crete and Cyrenaica (Libya) but destroyed by Arabs in 828 AD.

The ancient city was extended in a big part of the valley and surroundings about 4000 acres but only a small part of it is excavated. At the site there is many monuments you will see from Minoan period, Hellenistic period, but mainly from Roman period.

You can visit the archaeological site of Gortys through our tour Tour 4 and discover one of the greatest monuments of the island antiquity.