The Frangocastello Fortress
It is a Venetian fortress of rectangular shape, and on each side there' s a tower. Over the gate, one sees a relief with the Lion of St Marcus and the Venetian crowns. The buildings in the interior, as well as the battlements, were constructed during the ottoman occupation; at the same time many repairs were carried out. Underneath the fortress, there are the ruins of the church of St Marcus.
According to tradition, during the second half of May and with a specific weather, shadows of the armed cretan warriors, who lost their lives there, seem to march towards the fortress. The locals call them Drosoulites. Near the fortress, is the church of St Niketas of 1371, where there are traces of an early christian basilica. The works of restoration and consolidation were carried out by the 13th Ephorate οf Byzantine Antiquities.
Monastery of Gouverneto at Kydonia
The actual Monastery complex was built from 1537 till 1548. According to tradition, it was connected with miraculous St John the Hermit, and was used for the housing of the Saint' s pilgrims. The monastery flourishes during the 16th century, but is partly destroyed in 1765 and during the revolution of 1821. After the liberation, it flourishes one more time, because of its large property in flocks.
The monastery is a typical example of the orthodox monastic architecture. It is formed of a rectangular precinct, with the Katholicon in the middle. The Katholicon is a triconch church with cupola and annexes with pyramidal cupolas ending up in obelisks. There are also the refectory the kitchens, the storehouses, the oven, the wine cellar, the oil store house and the cells.
The actual neoclassical form of the Katholicon is of the 19th century. The restoration and consolidation works were carried out by the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.
Monastery of Tzagaroli
It is a monastery of 17th century, with repairs that were made during the ottoman occupation. It was abandoned during the revolution of 1821 and ransacked by the Turks. In 1834 it is repaired one more time: a new abbot' s quarters, a guest house and, in the turn of century, a new bell - tower were built. From 1897 onwards, there is also an ecclesiastical school there.
It is a typical example of the orthodox monastical architecture. The rectangular precinct has a majestic gate. The Katholicon, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, has the form of the athonite triconch church with a chapel dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ and a cemetery beneath the church. The Monastery owned olive-presses, stables, wine-presses and wine cellars.
The restoration and consolidation works in the complex were carried out by the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.
Lissos
The site was the religious centre of the cities in south-west Crete. It flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. In 1957-58 the Asklepieion was excavated by N. Platon.
The most important monuments of the site are:
-The Temple of Asklepios, dated to the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
-Part of a Roman theatre.
-Rock-cut and built chamber tombs.
Aptera
Aptera was founded in the Geometric period, although the city is mentioned in the Linear B tablets found at Knossos (A-pa-ta-wa). It reached a peak in the Hellenistic period, with intense commercial and political activity. In the Roman period, the town had a more rural character. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 7th century A.D. and much later, in the 12th century, the Monastery of Hagios Ioannes Theologos (St. John the Baptist) was founded at the site.
In 1942 the site was excavated by the German conquerors, who investigated the bipartite sanctuary and in 1958, St. Alexiou excavated parts of buildings and graves. In the years 1986-87 and 1992-95, systematic and salvage excavations were carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities.
SOURCE: hellenic Ministry Of Culture
