When the ancient Greeks colonized the island, they built here a city, making an orthogonal street network as was typical for the Hellenic town planning. In the following ages the island was taken over by different rulers and each of them added something to the towns’ face. This way many imposing fortifications and fine public and domestic buildings appeared. But all that construction followed the ancient street plan without breaking it. This is a remarkable example of urban continuity, a striking exception of the general European practice.