In the large square of Church Saint Titos, there is one of the oldest trees in the city: Platanos.

Many trees, in various regions of Crete, have been characterized as "monumental trees" due to their size and their age. Among them, the most famous tree is the evergreen sycamore of Ancient Gortyna, under which it is said Zeus met Europa, who gave birth to Minos. 

According to the myth, Zeus, disguised as a bull, coupled with Europe, whom he had brought from Phoenicia, under a deep- shaded plane tree on the banks of the Lethaios River. The offspring of this union were three sons, Minos, Sarpidon and Radamanthis. Later, the oldest Agora of the city of Gortyn, the Ekklesisterion (Congress hall), and the Roman Odeum were founded on this site. The plane tree was blessed and has remained ever green since that time. As his place of birth, the city was founded by King Minos himself.