Spinalonga

Spinalonga Island is located on the east side of Crete at the entrance to Mirabello Bay. It is of great interest among many tourists, although not everyone can venture upon this tour.

The island was called a place of lepers, a harbour of the living dead and a fortress. During the tour you can find out why many people are afraid of it and what the history of this place is.

type: private  up to 6 people;
duration: 10–11 hours;
with children: yes;
you will visit: Selinari, Monastery of St. George, Elounda, Plaka Village, Spinalonga Island, Agios Nikolaos.

History

Since in the Middle Ages, Spinalonga suffered from the pirates’ raids, the land was empty. In the XIII century, the territory became part of the Venetian Republic. According to historical data, this territory was previously a peninsula. Once in the XVI century, its northern part was used to create a fortress and it became an island. The fortress was necessary for the protection of Olus port.

In 1669, Crete was occupied by the Turks. However, the fortress was being defended over 35 years. Anyway, having occupied the fortress, the Turks created a village on the inside with a population of about 1 thousand people.

After the proclamation of independence of the Greek state, the Turks obstinately did not want to leave the island. In order to drive them away, the Greeks decided to try to outwit. At that time there was a leprosy virus going around which distorted and disfeatured the face of the sick. The disease easily passed to anyone. In order to isolate the diseased, it was decided to send them to Spinalonga. The island turned to be a burial place for the living. There was no way back from there. The frightened Turks left the island’s lands upon the arrival of the first lepers.

Spinalonga was isolated from the whole world. Part of the food was grown by the locals themselves, the other was delivered by boat. By 1915, the island became one of the largest leprosiums in the world.

Despite this, the lepers continued to live and built buildings, houses, shops, a church and roads on the island.

In 1948, a remedy against the disease was found in the United States, which allowed patients to recover and return to their homeland. However, many of them could not survive. Since 1957, when the last leper died, the island became uninhabited. Many buildings were destroyed, although some of them were managed to be restored. And to this day no one lives in Spinalonga.

There was not a single mirror on the island: the lepers did not want to see what the disease did to their faces. In memory of the souls of the dead, the Greek artist T. Tsoklis created a project. A cross consisting of mirror fragments symbolizing the torments of the sick was installed on the wall of the fortress. You can see the fragments of mirrors on the island.

Sightseeing Tour to Spinalonga

The sightseeing tour involves not only acquaintance with the history and sights of the island, but also swimming in the waters of the bay. If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature, swim and sunbathe, you will have free time.

You can find out the details of the tour, its duration and cost online on the website of Moysidis Travel. In order to sign up for the sightseeing tour, please contact us at: +30 699 280 0329, +49 1577 559 3278 or write to e-mail: moysidistravel@gmail.com.

• Selinari, Monastery of St. George
• Elounda
• Plaka Village
• Spinalonga Island
• Agios Nikolaos