Archaeological Sites in Sfakia

Phoenix
Near today's Loutro, lies an ancient city that was between the harbor of Anopolis and Aradena, which feature remnants from various historical epochs, including underground domes.

Loutro
An ancient city that was named after its bathtubs which utilized water channeling from Anopolis and its remains can still be observed today.

Aradena
The ancient city of Aradin, also known as Iradin, is thought to have been founded by the Phoenicians. This autonomous city minted its own currency and its architectural ruins and tombs are still present among the remains of the village.

Anopolis
The remains of the ancient town, which was an autonomous city with its own currency, can be found near the today's village of Anopolis. This town thrived primarily during the periods of Roman and Byzantine domination.

Tarra
The ancient coastal city located near the exit of Samaria Gorge, where today exists Agia Roumeli. There was a small but powerful city that minted its own currency. The coins featured the Cretan wild goat on one side and a bee on the other. It is believed that the wider area was involved in glass-making, as excavations in 1959 uncovered tombs from the Archaic period (5th-4th century BC) filled with funeral gifts. This well-fortified city was inhabited continuously from the Classical period through the Roman domination.

Pikilesion or Pikilassos
The remains of an ancient town can be found in the Tripiti Gorge of Sfakia, specifically located between Suia (Sougia) and Tarra (Agia Roumeli), at today's Boukelasi. It was built at an altitude of 400 meters. It is believed that this town was the harbor of Eliros and existed during the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. However, it was abandoned during the Roman domination and a new settlement was established at the exit of Tripiti gorge. The coast in the area features the remains of two temples from the ancient town.

Kaino
There is a small mountainous ancient city that was situated within the Samaria Gorge, close to the banks of the river. This city was a thriving community and according to tradition, it was the birthplace of Artemis the Britomartis, also known as Diktini, who was the daughter of Zeus. In 1991, an outdoor sanctuary was discovered near the church of Agios Nikolaos, along with numerous bronze and iron weapons such as arrows and spears. This site was likely the oracle of Apollo or the Kirikion Andron. It is believed that the nymph Akakali, wife of Hermes and daughter of Minos, was worshipped there, with Hermes himself holding a cane called "Kirikion".