Ancient Falassarna, located at the northwestern tip of Crete, was one of the island's most powerful maritime city-states during the Hellenistic period

It was famous for its "closed" harbor, linked to the sea via a man-made canal. The locals were skilled sailors but also notorious pirates, leading the Romans to destroy the city in 67 BC and seal the port with massive stones. The most striking feature today is a rare geological phenomenon: the ancient harbor and its quays now sit 6 to 9 meters above sea level, completely on dry land. This was caused by the catastrophic earthquake of 365 AD, which tilted the entire island of Crete, lifting the western part out of the sea. Today, visitors can see the fortification towers, ancient houses, and the famous stone throne (likely dedicated to Poseidon), while walking on what used to be the seabed.