Agia Pelagia

It is a modern tourist settlement that lies in a picturesque leeward bay protected from the northeastern winds. A long beach with fine yellow sand that in some spots becomes white and thick, is mixed with small white pebbles that embraces the area. This bay of Agia Pelagia together with smaller bay of Ligaria, in a distance of 1 km, form a picturesque cluster. Agia Pelagia was named after the homonymous church that was located 1 km away from the bay and was a dependency of Savvathianoi Monastery. Nowadays, only the small church is preserved and some desolate buildings as well. Northward of the bay, there is a cave, known as "Evresi" (finding) because of the finding of the icon of Agia Pelagia. Archaeologists believe that ancient Apollonia was located here. At the location Kladotos, recent excavations brought to light sundry Minoan and Hellenistic findings. Vaulted tombs, carved on a rock from the Late Minoan Period were found here. The most significant finding was the Prytaneum, constructed in the 4th century, and destroyed in the 2nd BC. There were also houses excavated as well as a pottery workshop.