Not many of the thousands of visitors who throng the beaches of Falasarna – ranked the World’s 21st Best Beach and Europe’s 6th by Tripadvisor in 2023 – may be aware that it also houses an ancient site of considerable significance. A city with fortified harbour existed in ancient times, with an important temple dedicated to the goddess Demeter. The remains of the site can still be seen at the northern end of the bay, where archaeologists have found evidence of occupation as far back as the Later Neolithic Period (3500 BC).