Gortyn
Γόρτυνα
The ruins of ancient Gortyn, capital of Crete in the Roman era, where stone walls carry the Law Code of Gortyn, one of Europe’s earliest written law codes, alongside the remains of the 6th-century St Titus Basilica.
In Roman times Gortyn was the capital of the province of Crete and Cyrenaica. At the entrance area you can see the well-preserved semicircular apse of the St Titus Basilica. In the Roman odeon stands the Law Code of Gortyn, written around the 5th century BC in Greek script, arranged in boustrophedon style (alternating left to right and right to left), and inscribed on stone blocks. It covers marriage, inheritance and slavery. Temple and theatre remains are also scattered through the olive groves. Admission is about 6 euros, a visit takes about an hour, and the site lies on the road to Phaistos.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–20:00 in summer; shorter in winter
Nearby sights
- Palace of Phaistos
- Matala Beach & Caves
- Archanes & Peza Wine Region
- Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
- Knossos Palace
- Venetian Walls & Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
- Agios Minas Cathedral
- Natural History Museum of Crete