Gortyn (Gortyna) was the capital of a Roman province and the seat of the first Christian bishop of Crete. During the Roman period it was the chief city of Crete—its population may have reached 100,000 people. The site is huge—its city walls are about 6 mi. [10 km.] long!
According to Greek legend Zeus married Europa under the plane tree here — and thus this tree was permitted to remain forever green.
The Basilica of St. Titus preserves the memory of Titus’ ministry on the island (Titus 1:5).