Location information

Acropolis

POLYRRINIA (Ancient city) CHANIA
  Polirinia is the site of remains from the sixth century B.C., Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian eras. It was a powerful city, built on the natural fortifications of the rock at the top of the mountain. One of its harbours was at Falasarna, the other was Kastelli (Kissamos). The remains that are visible now are mostly from the second Byzantine and the Venetian periods. A particularly interesting set of remains is in the Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos; the unique exhibit of an athlete's skull with a gold leaf crown found in a 1 A.D. cemetery near Agios Nikolaos and a coin from Polirinia in his mouth. As you walk up from the base of the hill you will see holes or caves carved in the rock, they are graves from the Roman period. Cisterns carved in rock are visible on the top.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=1013 (4 img.)

Archaeological Site of Phalasarna

FALASARNA (Ancient city) CHANIA
Tel: +30 28210 44418
Fax: +30 28210 44418

Ancient Falasarna

  The ancient city of Falasarna is being excavated. The excavations have exposed some of the walls and buildings of the city. The geographical shift (rise) of Crete has put the ancient harbour on dry land. Falasarna was a commercial naval power during the Hellenistic period and also the harbour of Polirinia. An interesting throne, carved out of rock, is on the dirt track as you enter the ancient city. The acropolis of the city was on the peninsula in front, on top of the hill. The fortification walls around the hill are still visible. The harbour was just below the fortifications, on the south side of the peninsula. There are no signs of the harbour now, since it is above ground. There were two towers, one on the north and one on the south side of the harbour dating from the fourth century B.C. A second channel allowed an exit from the harbour on the bay at the north side of the acropolis, 100 metres further on. It is assumed that this was a pirate stronghold at one time.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=16 (5 img.)

Archaeological Site of Polyrrhenia

POLYRRINIA (Ancient city) CHANIA
Tel: +30 28210 44418
Fax: +30 28210 44418