All that is left of this prestigious Roman city is a huge field of ruins, a jumble of stones scattered over several hundred metres beneath the olive trees. The ruins evoke the past glory of Gortyn, capital of Roman Crete and seat of its first Christian bishop. Legend holds that this is where Zeus married Europa under the plane trees, thus granting them the privilege of remaining forever green.

All that is left of this prestigious Roman city is a huge field of ruins, a jumble of stones scattered over several hundred metres beneath the olive trees. The ruins evoke the past glory of Gortyn, capital of Roman Crete and seat of its first Christian bishop. Legend holds that this is where Zeus married Europa under the plane trees, thus granting them the privilege of remaining forever green.

The lake's steep slopes are topped by houses and outdoor restaurants (with a fine panorama). 64m deep, surprising given its modest diameter, it was once known as ''Artemis' Pool'' and was thought to be a bottomless lake whose dark waters led to the underworld. It was connected to the sea by a channel dug in 1870 and is fed by an underground river .

From Ágios Nikólaos to Móhlos, the road follows a well-chosen route along the magnificent rocky coast of Mirambélou Bay, first at sea level and then, after the turn-off for Ierápetra, a bit higher up. The road leads to or goes by many inlets, where bathing is possible, and affords beautiful views of the mountains inland and over the gentle curve of a shining bay delimited by small headlands and islands. Some areas are planted with tomatoes, beans and olive trees.