Neapolis is a beautiful city, 15km from Agios Nikolaos on the highway from Agios Nikolaos to Iraklion. Neapolis is the former capital of the prefecture of Lassithi (currently Agios Nikolaos), still has the provincial courts and is the seat of local government. One of its most renowned citizens was Petros Filargos or Pope Alexander V. He studied in Heraklion and then in San Francesco at the Venetian monastery. After a lot of studies all over Europe he was declared Pope in 1409. He died in Bologna. Neapolis was under the Turks and Adhosidis Kostis Pasha. Many monasteries and churches are located near Neapolis. The Byzantine church of Agia Ekaterini or the Panagia Kera Goniotisa or the monastery of Agios Georgios Vrahatsiotis are some of them. |