The wider area of Paleochora serves as a base from which you can visit archeological sites, references to the civilization that existed on the island of Crete:
Lissos: an independent city in Agios Kirikos area, near the village of Sougia. Lissos and Syia were the harbours of the city of Elyros, the most important ancient city of the area. It was established in the Classical period and flourished until the Late Antiquity. There were discovered ruins of theatre, aqueduct, cemetery, baths of the ancient times, and Palaiochristian basilicas, testifying the prosperity and the power of the Asclepieion of Lissos. Lissos has its own coins and was an ally of of Yrtakina.
Elyros: an unexcavated ancient city, located near the village of Rodovani. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period, e.g. 500 to 350 B.C.
In the Classical Period, Elyros was the most important ancient city in southwestern Crete, having about 16,000 inhabitants. It was an industrial and commercial city with large weapons production. Syia and Lissos were its harbours.
Kadros – Kandania: Kadros was an ancient city, located in the present site Kadros. It flourished during the Hellenistic period (4th century BC). The ruins convey an extensive city with many residents. Of great interest is the ancient cemetery of Kadros.
The most important and famous city in the valley of Vlithias was Kandanos or Kandania, due to the findings of quartz and copper mines.
Υrtakina: an independent inland power, near the village Temenia Selinou. Yrtakina flourished in the Hellenistic times and aong with Lissos set the foundations for the establishment of the Federation of the Mountains in the beginning of the 3rd century B.C., creating their first common coin.
Syia: a harbour of Elyros, at the village of Sougia.
Syia flourished in the Roman and the 1st Byzantine period. There are Roman ruins and three large Palaiochristian Basilicas. Syia had set up monetary union with Yrtakina, Elyros, Lissos, and Tarra. It seems that the Saracens destroyed the city.
Poikilassos: an ancient city at Trypiti cape, between Sougia and Agia Roumeli. Poikilassos was not an autonomous city, as it belongs to Elyros. In Poikilassos, inscription that testifies the existence of Temple of the Babylonian God Serapes was found.
Tarra: an independent harbour- town of west Crete, at the site of the modern settlement of Agia Roumeli. According to mythology, here Apollo fell in love with nymph Akakkalis and from their union were born the founders of the city of Elyros, Phylakis and Philandros.
Vienna: Ancient city on the west area of Kundura.
