Spinalonga

Spinalonga today is an important monument in another chapter of the interesting history of Crete.

This island is located in the gulf of Crete, in Elounda and hosts a 16th century Venetian fortress. However, it was used as a leper colony for more than 50 years as result for the locals to not doing much to advertise it. But tourists began to discover it on their own, when some boats made their way from there in the 80's and definitely when in 2005 starred in Victoria Hislop's novel "The Island", which gained international recognition and brought Spinalonga in the top of destinations. The large medieval forts which created to protect the strategically important bay of Mirabello, will captivate you. Today, the walls seem as impenetrable as they were at the time when countless invaders were constantly repelling them.

Once inside, you follow a path of 1500 meters around the perimeter and now you have passed through the gate of Dante, the tunnel that took its name from the fact that patients did not know what would happen to them after passing it.

Definitely a place to visit, and this will be made easier with a vehicle from our company KretaCars since it is only 60km from Heraklion.