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The excavation site of Gortyna lies at the main road through the Messara Plain.
The widespread ruins of Gortyna are the remaining witnesses of one of the largest cities of Crete. A walk through the area to the ruins standing in olive groves on both sides of the road, show very clearly the size of the city.
The area was inhabited in the Stone Age but the height of power was during Roman times. Gortyna was the capital of Crete. It maintained its power until 824 AD when it was occupied and destroyed by the Saracens.
One of the most important finds is from 500 BC, the Dorian social laws, carved into stone in the Dorian dialect, and which can be seen today behind the "Odeon".
Also important are the ruins of the Titus church, a 3-naved basilica with domed roof, which was built in 600 AD. It is one of the oldest and most important monuments of Crete. The basilica of Agios Titus was the seat of the first bishops of the Cretan church.