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Spinalonga island (official name is Kalydon) is located in Lassithi, opposite Plaka village, in the Gulf of Elounda (north-eastern Crete)
The place is naturally beautiful, with amazing views to the gulf and with its sublime beauty of ruins, it leaves a bittersweet taste as you visit.
(View of Spinalonga Fortress as you approach the island)
HISTORY
The island was fortified from its earliest years in order to protect the entrance of the port.
As per the Venetian cartographer Vincenzo coroneli, Spinalonga used to be linked with the adjacent peninsula. However in 1526, the Venetians cut down a portion of this peninsula creating the island.
The island served as a leper colony from the 18th century until 1957 when the last leper left.
(Walking through Spinalonga small roads)
HOW & WHEN TO VISIT SPINALONGA
Boats sail from the pretty port of Plaka, from Elounda or from Agios Nikolaos.
Spinalonga is the second more popular monument after Knossos.
It can be visited from April 1st until October 31st and it is daily open from 09:00 – 19:00
In the winter it is closed, but it can be opened on request for groups.
The tickets cost 8 € per adults
As per the ministry of Culture, free admission days are:
- 18th of April (International Monuments Day)
- 18th of May (International Museums Day)
- The last weekend of September (European Heritage Days)
- 28th of October
(Views from the top of Spinalonga)
USEFUL INFO & TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT
- In order to fully go round, it can take up to 2hours or so.
- From Elounda it takes 20 minutes on the boat, from Plaka it takes just a few minutes to arrive to the island.
- Make sure to take proper, comfortable, training shoes with you as the ground can be slippery at times.
- The views from the top of the fort are breathtaking, make sure to take plenty of photos.
- It can be windy sometimes, so be watch your hats.
- It is recommended to wear hats, sunglasses and have a good sunscreen on too!
- Also, bring some water with you as the water on the island can be a bit more expensive.
- If you visit during the high season months (Mid June to Mid September) it is best if you go in the morning time, as it can be rather crowded after 12:00.
(Spinalonga as seen from Plaka)
“Spinalonga. She played with the word rolling it around her tongue like an olive stone. The island lay directly ahead and as the boat approached the great Venetian fortification which fronted the sea […]. This, she speculated, might be a place where history was still warm, not stone cold, where the inhabitants were really not mythical”……. as Victoria Hislop wrote in her best-selling book “The Island”.
More information by VisitGreece & The Ministry of Culture
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Images: Credits to their owners retrieved from TripAdvisor
Interesting facts! Thank you 🙂
Wonderful, well written with awesome photos, worth stopping for. Thank you for the tour.
Thank you so much for your kind comment. It has even more value coming from you.
Warmest Regards from Crete, all the best!
You are most welcome, my words are well earned by you.
Thank you for sharing this post of Spinalonga.
Thank you for your kind comment!
That’s some impressive architecture. It still looks formidable after all this time…
Yes, and there are so many more photos that I did not post.
Thank you so much for commenting!
You’re always welcome
What a fantastic place, Cretan!
Thank you Lucia, it means a lot to me that you like it!
wow, what a beautiful place
It makes me happy to know you liked it : )
Such a wonderful place! I loved the photos.
Thank you so much Ellie!
Wow what a beautiful country.
Thank you so much Carol!
Through your pictures, Spinalonga Island seems very beautiful. Is the island inhabited, or is it only specifically designated as a tourist area? My apology for my ignorance.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment Albert!
The island is now a monument, and is not inhabited anymore.
Part of it has been restored, it is really heartbreaking to walk through these roads and to think of the thousands of years of history you are walking through.
Thank you again for your questions : )
First and second images are very able to describe the heartbreaking atmosphere as you convey. Great post, my friend.
best post ever i like your all posts
Thank you so much, I hope you will visit Crete (if you haven’t already!
Beautiful place. Fascinating facts. Lovely photographs. Great travel tips.
Thank you so much for your kind words!