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The Basilica of St. Titus is an early Christian Architecture church, dating back to the 7th century AD with frescoe traces still visible on the side chapels. It is a cross - shaped three - aisled Basilica with cupola; the northern and the southern arm of the cross end up in conchs. The church was built with rectangular hewn stones and it was restored after the recapture of Crete the 10th century.

Gortys (Gortyna) was an extremely important city during the early christrian period till the Arab conquest. According to tradition, Gortyna was the first city of Crete to accept Christianity. It was the see of the Apostle Titus, first bishop of Crete, whose name bears the basilica.
In 1884 the Italian archaeologists Halbherr and Fabricius started the excavations in this site. The Italian Archaeological School continues up to this day the excavatory research under the supervision of the Greek Archaeological Service. During these years, the excavatory research has brought to light a monumental early christian basilica near the archaeological site. The excavations of the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities uncover an early christian tetraconch Baptistery.
(after ODYSSEUS, the WWW server of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture)