Spinalonga, Greece

Spinalonga, also known as Kalydon, is a small island off the coast of Crete, near Elounda. Due to its strategical location, it was fortified in the 16th century by the Venetians. The island remained under Venetian control even after the rest of Crete was conquered by the Ottomans in 1669, eventually capitulating in 1715.
After the independence of Crete, a leper colony was established on the island, in 1903, to isolate people suffering from Hansen's disease from the rest of the population. A cure was discovered in the 1940s and the colony was closed in 1957 when the last 20 patients were moved to an Athens hospital. It has since fallen into disrepair.
In the 1930s Epameinondas Remoundakis, a 3rd year Law student, fell ill and was sent to the island, significantly contributing to the improvement of the patients' living conditions. Spinalonga became a prosperous community where people fell in love, got married and raised a family. Daily life in the colony originated a book and a movie, both named "The Island".
Spinalonga is the most popular archaeological site in Crete, after Knossos.

Entrance fee: €8
How to get there: You can take a boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka. The most accessible of the three is Agios Nikolaos, which can be reached by bus (KTEL and here- KTEL site isn't very impressive but their service is reliable, the buses are good, and the timetables are also at the bus stops). The boat will not only take you to Spinalonga but also to a beach in Kolokytha Peninsula for a swim, so schedule a few hours for this visit.

















Local: Spinalonga, Grécia

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