Temple of Phanaios Apollo

The ancient temple of Apollo Phanaios is located in Phana-Pyrgi near the village Mestá.

Phana was ones a big and important cultural centre. Today is not much of this left, but what is left is are some rests of the temple of Apollo Phanaios which goes back to the 9th century before Christus. They are located in the same place that is now the small temple of St. Theodore.

The temple is located on a little hill very closed to a bay. Once this temple was a holy place for worshipping Apollo. Nowadays are just some rests to find. Around the temple is a 74m long wall in still good quality to protect the holy hill and the temple. The wall comes out of the 6th century and was build out of irregular and middle sized stones. Also stairs were included which were used to enter the monastery. The temple consists just of some pillars, decor and rests of Christians symbols. These parts are either placed on the foundation walls or shared in the landscape.

Once the walls looked like grew-blue marble. The pillars consisted of white marble. This material aroused probably out quarry of Latomi. The way of building reminds on Asian influence.