The islet of Spinalonga is situated between Elounda and the Gulf of Mirabello in Crete’s north-eastern region. Its name means “long thorn” in Italian. The official Greek name for the islet is Kalidon. Its history begins in 1579, when the Venetians built a fortress on the islet to protect their occupations in Crete and their fleet, settled in the harbor of Elounda, from the Turkish invasions.
Because the towering fortifications that reach the seaside could prohibit any disembarkation, this islet was also a shelter for Christians during times of conflict. However, in 1715, the Turks defeated the Venetians and took control of Spinalonga. They held the island until 1905, when Crete was granted independence. The island was then utilized as a leper colony. All Crete’s lepers, who had previously lived in caves far from civilisation, were now transported to Spinalonga, where they were fed and treated.
However, in 1957, the treatments to cure this condition were discovered, and the lepers began to leave Spinalonga. A priest was the last person to live there, and he departed in 1962. This islet has been a popular tourist destination in recent years. It may be reached by boat from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. It takes roughly an hour to get there from Elounda and 15 minutes from Agios Nikolaos. Remember that the islet is populated and that there are no lodging choices. Only a daily trip is offered, and visitors are only on Spinalonga for a few hours.
