- Lerapetra (meaning ‘ancient stone’) is a Port city in located on the southeastern coast of the Lasithi Region of Crete.
- Its name in antiquity was Hierapytna and it was an ancient city of the Minoan Civilisation, then Classical Greece, before becoming a Roman city in 68 BCE in the Province of Crete.
History
- It is known as the ‘Bride of the Libyan Sea’, because it was the only town located on the south coast of Crete.
- The Island of Chrysi is located 7.5 miles (12km). The largest Cedar Tree Forest in Europe grows on the island.
The Port for North Africa
- Crete was united with Cyrenaica (Libya) and ruled by one Governor as a joint Roman Province.
- Hierapytna was the Greek port which connected the two Provinces.
Roman Sites
- The Remains of the Roman Harbour of Hierapytna lie under the sea and are just visible.
Museums
- Lerapetra Archeological Museum
- Located at Platia Ethnikis Antistaseos, Dimokratias ke, Lerapetra.
- The museum holds a collection of Roman lamps and full size Statues, most of which are torsos that have lost their heads.
Lerapetra, Crete