The history of Kissamos is rich and the archaeological sightseeing is just as rich. The history is lost in the depths of centuries and intertwines with mythology and the history of Chania and the rest of Crete. Within the boundaries of the Municipality, there are tell-tale signs of Neolithic habitation, and 5.7 million years old prints of a human ascendant were discovered recently. Let’s discover together the archaeological sites of Kissamos.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF KISSAMOS

The renowned Government House at Tzanakakis Square, inside the castle of Kastelli, is one of the prominent and most characteristic Venetian Era constructions in the town of Kissamos. Located in the old town part, once the Venetian centre, later taken over by Turkish occupants, who expanded the castle walls to include the Government House. Over the years and up until 2006, there have been numerous changes to the inside and outside; it houses the Kissamos Archaeological Museum ever since. The Literary Club of Kastelli began collecting archaeological finds from the wider area in 1936 and, in the following year, displayed those available across two halls on the ground floor, while the rest of the building housed public services such as…

ANCIENT POLYRRHENIA

The ancient city-state of Polyrrhenia lies 6 km south of Kissamos and is amphitheatrically built on a 418 m high hill, featuring a T-shaped acropolis. It was populated since prehistoric times and played a significant role up until the Roman Era. Its name means "one that is rich in sheep" but, according to historic sources, its dwellers, apart from being…

ANCIENT FALASSARNA

In the peninsula of Gramvousa, 12 km west of Kissamos, lies the ancient city-state of Falasarna. Populated since mid-Minoan Era until the 1st century B.C., it took its name from Falasarne, the water nymph. The city featured a "closed harbour", namely an artificially fortified port, with walls, defence towers and docks, connecting, through a canal, to the sea approximately 100 metres away. Its Acropolis, which was built high on the adjacent rocky cape, hosted a temple of, devoutly worshipped, goddess Diktynna. Ancient Falasarna was an independent city-state of strong trading activity, its own currency and a powerful naval force. Its circa 100-year rivalry with Polyrrhenia, possibly due to territorial dispute, which ended in 290 B.C. The peace treaty between them…