The ancient city of Aptera extends to the hill of Paliokastro, southeast of Souda Bay and at a distance of about 15 km from the city of Chania. The city developed into a strong commercial and political centre, due to its position, on the plateau of the low hill (200 m. altitude), occupying a strategic position above Souda Bay. For this reason, Aptera was characterised as the most commercial city of Crete and during periods of prosperity, one of the strongest, ruling a large area of land that included many rural settlements. The site is today the most visited site in the Chania Law. Some of the monuments were visible from the Venetian period, while others came to light after excavations that began systematically in the 80s. Most of the buildings of the archaeological site belong mainly to the Hellenistic and Roman eras (two large tanks, two baths, the theatre, a Roman house, temples, the fortification of the city and funerary monuments), while the monastery of Saint John the Theologian, in its present form, is built during the Venetian period. The restoration and promotion of the ancient theatre in 2015 also added another important visited monument to the archaeological site. The regeneration of the site aims to preserve and promote the architectural, cultural and natural heritage, since the works aim at the properness and restoration of the monument.