Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAP GOOGLE MAP
(Plateia Eleftherias; admission €3; 8am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) The archaeological museum is
based in an old Italianate building and hosts local sculptures from the Hellenistic to late
Roman eras. The most renowned statue is that of Hippocrates; there's also a 3rd-
century-AD mosaic in the vestibule that's worth seeing.
Castle of the Knights CASTLE
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( 22420 27927; admission €3; 8am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) You can now reach the once im-
pregnable Castle of the Knights by crossing a bridge over Finikon from Plateia Platanou.
The castle, which had massive outer walls and an inner keep, was built in the 14th cen-
tury and separated from the town by a moat (now Finikon). Damaged by an earthquake
in 1495 and restored in the 16th century, it was the knights' most stalwart defence against
the encroaching Ottomans.
Archaeological Sites ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The ancient agora MAP GOOGLE MAP is an open site south of the castle. A massive
3rd-century-BC stoa, with some reconstructed columns, stands on its western side. On
the north side are the ruins of a Shrine of Aphrodite MAP GOOGLE MAP , Temple of
Hercules MAP GOOGLE MAP and a 5th-century Christian basilica MAP
GOOGLE MAP .
North of the agora is the lovely cobblestone Plateia Platanou, where you can sit in a
cafe while paying respects to the once-magnificent Hippocrates Plane Tree MAP
GOOGLE MAP (Plateia Platanou) , under which Hippocrates is said to have taught his pu-
pils. Beneath it is an old sarcophagus converted by the Turks into a fountain. Opposite
the tree is the boarded-up 18th-century Mosque of Gazi Hassan Pasha MAP
GOOGLE MAP .
On the other side of town is the western excavation site . Two wooden shelters at the
back of the site protect the 3rd- century mosaics of the House of Europa . The best-pre-
served mosaic depicts Europa's abduction by Zeus in the guise of a bull. In front of here
is an exposed section of the Decumanus Maximus (the Roman city's main thorough-
fare), which runs parallel to the modern road then turns right towards the nymphaeum ,
which consisted of once-lavish latrines, and the xysto , a large Hellenistic gymnasium
with restored columns. A short distance to the east, the Temple of Dionysos is over-
grown with oleander but has a few evocative ruins.
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