Aptera (Greece)

With its highly fortunate geographical situation, the city-state was powerful from Minoan through Hellenistic times, when it gradually declined.

[7] In the third century BC, Aptera was at war with Kydonia,[8] a prominent ancient city in northwestern Crete.

[8] During the Lyttian War in 220 BC, Aptera was at one time in alliance with Knossos but was afterwards compelled by the Polyrrhenians to side with them against that city.

[11] The hilltop, about 150 metres above the sea, commands views of Souda Bay and the Akrotiri Peninsula to the north, the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) to the south, and Kalives and the Turkish Izzedin Fortress to the east; the city of Chania is not quite visible to the west.

There are several structures within the square monastery enclosure,[12] including a chapel and a two-story block of monks' cells.