Aptera was already known from the 14th-13th centuries BC. With its highly fortunate geographical situation, the city-state was powerful from Minoan through Hellenistic times, when it gradually declined. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 7th century BC, but flourished again during Roman times. During the Saracen invasion in 824 AD, the city was destroyed and plundered.

Unfortunately the archaeological park, with excavated ruins mainly from Roman times, is locked over the winter. So I could only peek over the fences.