Santa Catarina (Αγία Αικατερίνη – Μπεντενάκη)
You most probably walked by this spot, perhaps you even wondered about what this is..
Fenced, so that nobody can walk in – protected but not showcased as it should be.
This small area, located at the seaside road, after the tavernas, very close to the Saint Markus church and just a few minutes away from the Koules Fortress is what has remained from an ancient church [Santa Catarina (Αγία Αικατερίνη)]
This location was discovered during March 2008, during construction works. The excavations are not yet concluded but so far they have discovered a place where there are both defensive elements from the past but also religious elements.
The temple remains include frescoes that were probably created during the 13th or 14th century.
This temple is referred at a Domenico Rossi da Este map of 1567 as Santa Catarina ruinata (which means Saint Catherine destroyed) – At a later map of 1570 and from then on, the temple is no more mentioned or appearing.
More sources & info:
https://cretaplanet.blogspot.com/2021/07/santa-catarina-ruinata.html
https://www.voltarakia.gr/daily-photos/item/7102-pername-synexos-apo-brosta-tou-kseroume-ti-einai
Congratulation!