Spinalonga stands alone among the hundreds of attractions in Crete. This small uninhabited patch of land in the waters of Mirabello Bay has a rich past. First of all, Spinalonga is famous as the island of lepers.
Spinalonga history
Spinalonga was originally part of Crete. In the Middle Ages, these lands were empty due to frequent pirate raids. During the time when Crete was under the yoke of the Venetians, Spinalonga was cut off from the coast for defensive purposes: to protect the port of Olus (now Elounda). The invaders erected a fortress on the island with a double ring of walls. The Venetians approached its construction responsibly. Spinalonga was considered one of the impregnable citadels in the Mediterranean.
In the 17th century, Crete was conquered by the Turks. But Spinalonga remained independent for more than three decades. When the Venetians were forced to leave the island, a Turkish village was formed there so that the Greeks would not settle in those parts.
The final resting place for leprosy sufferers
At the end of the 19th century, Crete was freed from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire. Only the Turks were in no hurry to leave Spinalonga. They had to flee the island only after the new Cretan government decided to create a leper colony on it - a hospital for patients with leprosy. Those who got to the island never came back. So Spinalonga turned into the "island of the living dead." Later, patients began to be brought there not only from Greece, but also from other European countries.
The lepers eked out a miserable existence in exile. Some meekly waited for death, while others laid hands on themselves. Many tourists claim that the island has an oppressed atmosphere, the air is literally saturated with pain and horror. And the locals do believe that there are ghosts that make strange sounds at night.
In 1957, the last inhabitants left the island. It was then that a cure for leprosy was found. However, after that, the island was bypassed for another two decades. In the late 70s, tourists began to take excursions to Spinalonga. It is still uninhabited, but every day it is visited by about a thousand curious people from all over the world.
Spinalonga landmarks
There is a small museum on the island. It is located in one of the renovated houses. Its exposition includes syringes, various flasks, medicines.
An old church has also survived on Spinalonga. It bears the name of Saint Panteilemont and is still working, you can go into it and light a candle. The church was built by the Byzantines, but then destroyed. It was restored by the patients of the leper colony.
Part of the walls of the fortress has been preserved on the island. They offer scenic views of the surroundings.
How to get there
Spinalonga Island is located in the northeastern part of Crete. Next to it is the peninsula of the same name. A couple of hundred meters from the island is the village of Plaka, from where small boats for tourists go to Spinalonga. During the day, they sail about every half hour. You can also get to the island from Agios Nikolaos and Elounda.
