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The plateau, at a height of 200 m in the mountains above Souda Bay, was populated from Minoan times. The foundations of the ancient town of Aptera date back to the 7th century BC.
Aptera became a centre of trade and one of the most important city/states of western Crete. In the first Byzantine era (395-824 AD) the life of the town was destroyed. Aptera became a victim of an earthquake or of the Arab invasion.
The ruins are worth seeing. These consist of the old town wall built from huge stones, a small theatre and ruins of temples. The vaulted three-sectioned cistern below the monastery dates back to the Roman era. The today deserted monastery Agios Joannis was built in modern times.
At the edge of the plateau there is a Turkish fortress dating from 1816. The view from here down to Souda Bay is breathtaking.