Agioi Deka combines a basilica in the town center with historic sites in the surrounding area. For a culturally focused stay, two perspectives can be distinguished: the church architecture and traditions surrounding the saints in the town, and the archaeological remains of ancient Gortyna.

Churches and History in the Town

A large three-aisled basilica dedicated to the saints of the same name stands in the center of Agioi Deka. The complex includes a narthex and two domed annexes to the east. The narthex is the entrance hall of the church; the three-aisled design divides the interior into three aisles. The Basilica of the Ten Saints was built within the Roman amphitheater of ancient Gortyna. There, the saints were martyred in 250 AD under Emperor Decius.

Another church stands on the southwestern edge of the town, near Agia Limni. It was built between 1915 and 1917. According to tradition, it was built over the saints’ graves, which can be seen in a catacomb beneath the narthex. The construction dates and the tradition offer different points of reference: the dates place the church building in time, while the traditional interpretation establishes its connection to the saints.

The small Fylakeio Museum is also located in the southwest of Agioi Deka. Its collection includes statues, inscriptions, and marble finds from ancient Gortyna. It thus complements the religious and architectural themes with artifacts from the ancient city. For practical planning, it is advisable to check the latest visiting arrangements for the churches and museum.

Nearby Gortyna: Agora, Odeon, and Cityscape

Architectural remains of an important ancient city have been preserved at the archaeological site of Gortyna. The site covers about 27 stremma; its operating history dates back to the 1970s. The ruins of the ancient city, with its acropolis and necropolises, extend over about 4,000 stremma and reach east as far as the village of Agioi Deka. These figures refer to different descriptions: one to the archaeological site, the other to the extensive ruins of the ancient city.

One notable structure at the site is the Roman Odeon. It was built at the highest point of the Greek agora, probably on the site of a Hellenistic bouleuterion dating from the 4th to the 2nd century BC. A bouleuterion was a council meeting hall. The inscription of the Laws of Gortyna was found on the outer wall of the Odeon’s circular corridor. The architecture and inscription thus point to different aspects of the same place: a public building and a significant written artifact.

The Great Theater of Gortyna is a short distance from the archaeological site. A notice from 2024 described excavations at the theater as ongoing. Together with the surviving architectural remains and the extensive landscape of ruins, this shows Gortyna to be more than a single structure. To place the different themes in time, you can distinguish the church construction period of 1915 to 1917, the martyrdom in 250 AD, and the Hellenistic history preceding the Odeon.

Agioi Deka thus offers a clear cultural focus: the churches and traditions surrounding the saints take center stage in the town, while nearby Gortyna is known for its archaeological cityscape. Which of these historical layers you would like to explore can guide your choice of destinations during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Kato Symi, Choudetsi, Psari Forada, Kato Kalesia, Gournes, Timbakion, Plora, Galatas

For the regional travel overview: Heraklion.