Near Itea on the seaside, there used to be an ancient settlement called Kirra, dating back to at least 3,000 BC. Although no one knows its exact origins, it is believed that merchants from Crete established the city. Kirra flourished after 1100 BC as a port city which was the gateway to Delphi. It was surrounded by walls and dotted with temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo and Artemis, including grand statues. The city’s heydays probably ended in AD 740 with a massive earthquake that hit the area. Today, only parts of a medieval tower remain.
