Spinalonga Vacations, Spinalonga Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Spinalonga Vacation Guide

Spinalonga, also known as Kalydon, is an island located northeast of the Crete town of Elounda. The island was given its Italian name, "long thorn", by the Venetians to describe its shape.

The Venetians built a fortress on Spinalonga in 1579 over the ruins of an ancient Oloun acropolis. They kept control of the island until 1715, when it was handed over to the Turkish Ottoman Empire by treaty. During the last years of Ottoman occupation, it served as a Christian refuge to escape the Turks.

Unfortunately, Spinalonga was used as a leper colony from 1903-1957. It was a prison-like home for leper outcasts even after medical advances rendered isolation unnecessary. A Greek Orthodox priest was the last resident to leave the island in 1962. He stayed in order to preserve the church tradition of commemorating a buried person 40 days, six months, one year, three years and, finally, five years after his/her death.

There were two entrances to Spinalonga. This was due to the fact that the lepers were unaware what was going to happen to them once they arrived. They were tricked into entering the leper’s tunnel known as Dante’s Gate. Once inside, they were captured, imprisoned and isolated forever.

Today, the unoccupied island is one of the main tourist attractions in Crete. From the nearest to farthest distance away, you can reach Spinalonga from Plaka, Elounda or Agios Nikolaos (Ag Nik).