Archeological sites

The renowned Government House at Tzanakakis Square, inside the castle of Kastelli, is one of the prominent and most characteristic Venetian Era constructions in the town of Kissamos. Located in the old town part, once the Venetian centre, later taken over by Turkish occupants, who expanded the castle walls to include the Government House. Over the years and up until 2006, there have been numerous changes to the inside and outside; it houses the Kissamos Archaeological Museum ever since. The Literary Club of Kastelli began collecting archaeological finds from the wider area in 1936 and, in the following year, displayed those available across two halls on the ground floor, while the rest of the building housed public services such as…

In the peninsula of Gramvousa, 12 km west of Kissamos, lies the ancient city-state of Falasarna. Populated since mid-Minoan Era until the 1st century B.C., it took its name from Falasarne, the water nymph. The city featured a "closed harbour", namely an artificially fortified port, with walls, defence towers and docks, connecting, through a canal, to the sea approximately 100 metres away. Its Acropolis, which was built high on the adjacent rocky cape, hosted a temple of, devoutly worshipped, goddess Diktynna. Ancient Falasarna was an independent city-state of strong trading activity, its own currency and a powerful naval force. Its circa 100-year rivalry with Polyrrhenia, possibly due to territorial dispute, which ended in 290 B.C. The peace treaty between them…