Ancient Lappa
Ancient Lappa is a Greek and Roman city site in the hills 27 km south of Rethymno, under and around the present-day village of Argyroupolis. The city was one of the towns said to have been founded by Agamemnon in Crete, and it was later known as Lappi or Lambi. Its remains are not fenced off in one enclosure: they sit among the houses, springs and lanes of the modern village.
The setting is what brings most people up here. The area is known for its springs with waterfalls, its old mills and the green landscape, and it draws thousands of visitors each year. Our guide to Argyroupolis covers the springs village built on top of the ancient city, 1 km from the ruins.
History of Lappa
Lappa took in refugees early in its recorded history. The citizens of Lyttos fled here after the massacre of Lyttos by Knossos, and the city went on to make alliances of its own: with Teos in 193 BC and with Pergamon in 183 BC.
The city thrived until 68 AD, when the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus destroyed it. It was revived as a Roman town with special privileges at the end of the Roman era, and the monuments and minted coins found here reflect that second period of wealth. After the arrival of the Arabs in Crete, the town and the Diocese founded by Apostle Titus were both destroyed.
What survives of the ancient city
Archaeologists have identified Roman baths and basilicas with mosaics in the area, along with inscriptions and statues of Zeus, Aphrodite and Dionysus. The Cave of Agia Dynami also appears to have played a significant role in the life of the city, and the spring that gushes through its rock is the reason why.
Two more sites sit just outside the village. The temple of the Five Virgins stands close by, dedicated to Thekla, Marianna, Ethane, Martha and Mary, who are believed to have died there. Beside it lies the Roman necropolis with its carved tombs, set in a green area with a water spring and a plane tree that has been designated a natural monument.
From Lappa to Argyroupolis
The village on the site changed hands and changed names several times after antiquity. During the Venetian period the city passed from the Hortatsis family to Alexios Kallergis, and it prospered again, which is why so many Venetian buildings stand in the village today. The Turks called the town Gaidouropoli, meaning Donkey Town, until 1822, when the rebels renamed it Argyroupolis.
The village then played a part in the Cretan struggle for union with Greece. The General Assembly of Crete met at Argyroupolis in 1867 and again in 1878, the year the Cretans declared the Union of Crete with Greece, though that attempt failed.
Things to do around ancient Lappa
Five places lie within 8 km of the site, listed nearest first.
- Walk the springs and old mills of Argyroupolis, 1 km away and built directly on the ancient city.
- Hike the Kollita Gorges at Vilandredo, 2.5 km from the village.
- Continue into Moundros Gorge, part of the same system 3.1 km away.
- Visit Profitis Ilias Monastery at Roustika, 3.1 km from the site.
- Spend an afternoon at Lake Kournas, 7.3 km north and the only natural freshwater lake in Crete.
Beaches near ancient Lappa
The nearest beaches to ancient Lappa are on the north coast, because the site itself sits inland. Two of them lie within 8 km and the Georgioupolis strand is a little further.
- Episkopi beach lies 6.5 km away, below the inland town of Episkopi.
- Kavros beach is 7.8 km north, where the outflow from Lake Kournas reaches the sea.
- Kalivaki beach sits at Georgioupolis, further round the same bay.
Getting to ancient Lappa
Drive south from Rethymno for 27 km on the inland road that climbs towards Argyroupolis, then park in the village and walk to the remains. There is no separate entrance to hunt for, because the ancient city and the modern village occupy the same ground. The village of Agios Konstantinos is 2.3 km further on for anyone continuing into the hills.
Several walking routes and sites in the surrounding hills work as a second stop on the same drive. Kotsifos Gorge cuts south towards the Libyan Sea, Sykia Gorge runs down to the Rodakino villages, and the Minoan tombs at Armeni Necropolis lie on the road back towards Rethymno.
Frequently asked questions
Where is ancient Lappa?
Ancient Lappa lies 27 km south of Rethymno, under the modern village of Argyroupolis. The village sits 1 km from the excavated remains, and the springs it is known for rise on the same slope.
Who founded Lappa?
Lappa is one of the Cretan towns believed to have been founded by Agamemnon. The city later took in the citizens of Lyttos, who fled here after Knossos destroyed their town.
What can you see at ancient Lappa?
The identified remains include Roman baths, basilicas with mosaic floors, inscriptions and statues of Zeus, Aphrodite and Dionysus. The Cave of Agia Dynami with its spring, the temple of the Five Virgins and a Roman necropolis of carved tombs all lie close to the village.
Why is Argyroupolis called Argyroupolis?
Cretan rebels renamed the village Argyroupolis in 1822. Before that the Turks had called it Gaidouropoli, meaning Donkey Town, and in antiquity the same place was Lappa.
When was Lappa destroyed?
The Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus destroyed Lappa in 68 AD. The town was rebuilt with special privileges late in the Roman era and was destroyed a second time after the Arabs reached Crete.
Location
Ancient Lappa is located at Ancient Lappa, in the Rethymno region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
