We recommend you book your tour in advance, either online or through your hotel, to ensure availability.

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Spinalonga was a vast slum, a cemetery for lepers, without any organization, without medication for the sicks, without hope. Tags: Island, Castle, Historical Site, Family And Kids. WebSpinalonga (Kalydon) 4.5 9,829 reviews #1 of 22 things to do in Elounda Historic Sites Islands Closed now 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Visit website Call Email Write a review About Suggested duration 2-3 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. WebFrom Elounda harbour, there is a boat to Spinalonga every 30 minutes throughout the summer. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. However, in 1715, the Turks came to terms with the Venetians and occupied the island. Even today there are buildings from the period of the castle town, as two-storey houses with tall yard walls and shops with wide doors and large windows. The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international communitys efforts to protect and preserve. Despite these challenges, the lepers who lived on Spinalonga were able to form a community and support each other. WebTimings: 09:30 am - 04:00 pm Details. Spinalonga from Agios Nikolaos. Spinalonga is a tiny islet not far off the coast of Crete Island. In fact, you can see it while standing on the shore of the main island! Delight your senses with juices, drinks, and signature cocktails of your choice.

the hospital in and around the mosque of the Ottoman settlement, Garnison building later used as a desinfection area, 40 best landscapes in Crete (in pictures) -, The most beautiful archaeological sites -, The most beautiful churches and monasteries in Crete -, The best destinations in Crete, where to stay -, Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary -, The most beautiful boat trips around Crete -, Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno - where to go? Those who could, worked on various posts. A boat ride is a no-go if its storming or rough out at sea. By creating an account you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Different boats (several companies but one departure point) - generally smaller boats, Different boats (several companies but one departure point) - my boat was large enough and stable, Mix of free and not free carparks around town, The trips to Spinlaonga from Agios Nikolaos are more organized tours including a lunch and the opportunity to swim at one of the beaches along the way, For example you can start this tour from Agios Nikolaos, and it includes lunch and wine tasting -, Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for comfort on mountain roads). Of roughly similar date to Spinalonga are the fortresses of S. Andrea and S. Felice in the Venetian lagoon, which form part of the full World Heritage List inscription of Venice. What to do in Heraklion, Crete. The island is open from 8 AM to 6 PM for some public holidays. Initially, patients arrived from Crete, but after the unification with Greece in 1913 patients also came from the mainland. Why visit Spinalonga Island in Crete - video, Planning - How to get to Spinalonga Island - Map, Boat & Tours, Museum and history of Spinalonga (Venetians, Ottomans and Leper colony), Abandoned Village on the island of Spinalonga, check out accommodation options in Elounda, check out accommodation options in Agios Nikolaos, the island is very close to the coast, so the crossing is not long and does not induce sea sickness, it is covered with fortifications from the Venetians and Ottoman, it is actually an islet, so you can explore it entirely in a short time. But its history dates way further back than the 90s, and, originally, a medieval fort was constructed here during the Venetian times to protect neighboring towns. Its original name was Calydon, but the Venetians named it Spinalonga from the Venetian word Spina-Longa, which means long thorn. The summer Spinalonga was fortified by the Venetians between 1579-1586 which, along with the fortification of Crete, made up one of the most important Mediterranean defensive sea fortresses of its time.

[citation needed], Spinalonga, along with Gramvousa and Souda, remained in Venetian hands even after the rest of Crete fell to the Ottomans in the Cretan War (16451669) and until 1715, when they fell to the Ottomans during the last OttomanVenetian War.

After the Fall of Candia in 1669, Spinalonga remained under the control of Venice. At the end of the 19th century it is estimated that there were approximately 200 homes and 25 shops or workshops on Spinalonga.

This situation began altering after 1936, the year when the patient Epaminondas Remoundakis, a third year law student, arrived in Spinalonga and who founded the "Fraternity of Spinalonga Patients and struggled over the following years for improving the living conditions of patients. Time Required: 04:00 Hrs. Most boats that depart from Agios Nikolaos are larger cruise liners. WebSpinalonga is open: Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. it has a long tumultuous history under Venetian and Ottoman ruling. Their hard, wretched life did not weaken their will to live. Repairs and alterations to the fort were made before and during the Cretan War (1645-1669). Contribute/Review. WebOpening Hours The island is accessible from April 1st to October 31st, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm during fair weather conditions. This email address is being protected from spambots. The island is open from 8 AM to 6 PM for some public holidays.

The temples of St. Panteleimon and St. George were built during that period. Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in selected locations on Crete in the morning. WebFrom Elounda harbour, there is a boat to Spinalonga every 30 minutes throughout the summer.

The strategic location of the place made it a very important port and base during its hay day.

Though the characters were fictional, the story of an isolated In the mid-19th century the island gathered a large number of residents, mostly merchants and sailors, who took advantage of the license. Log in. It is a source of inspiration for authors, film directors, artists and musicians. You will pass through villages like Kato Louma, Nikithianos, Fourni, Karydi and Valtos. Due to the distance from Agios Nikolaos, boats depart in the morning and make a day trip to Spinalonga stopping at beaches on the way and providing a barbeque lunch onboard, returning back to the town in the afternoon. Thanks for visiting! In 1715, following a siege, the islet was surrendered to the Ottomans, the Venetian garrison left and the remaining 600 inhabitants were taken captive. The boat will bring you to the beautiful beach of Kolokitha for swimming and a barbeque lunch (included in the price). The visit to the monument depends on the weather conditions and the itineraries of the boats that perform the transports on the island. Nicolaos 6 In olden times, people with leprosy were forced to live on Spinalonga, a fortress island in Mirabello Bay. Today thousands of tourists visit Spinalonga each summer by boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka, for a tour of its ruined buildings, which the Archaeological Service is laboriously trying to maintain.

At strategic points in the fortifications are set the Michel and Moceniga or Barbariga demilunes, major works of fortification architecture.

See options The fortifications: its hard to miss the well-preserved walls, towers, and gates that were built by the Venetians in the 16th century to defend against Ottoman invasions. The best Cretan beaches. Venetians predicted that Turks would start expanding to the West Mediterranean and decided to build a fort on the island, protecting the whole lagoon of Elounda. Olous was the ancient town of Elounda, currently immersed under the strip of land that connects Elounda with the Peninsula of Kolokytha. However, the islet is only 170 metres from Kolokytha and the water is shallow, so perhaps the Venetians did indeed carry out this project to form an impregnable island fortress. Winter: The site is closed.

Extract "Spinalonga", Werner Herzog's documentary about man from Spinalonga, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spinalonga&oldid=1126901291, Medical and health organizations based in Greece, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Spinalonga-Paradise or Purgatory? Phone: 30-2841041773. And it became a leper colony in the 20th century. Spinalonga is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6 PM during the summer season. The book has dominated for 24 weeks in the British top 10 and has been translated into over 15 languages, making Spinalonga and its history known throughout the world. Remember, back then there was no cure for leprosy. The first phase of construction lasted from 1579 until 1586. Through the pages of this blog, I want to help you make the very most of your visit to Greece and the Greek Islands and show you how to plan your trip to Greece like an insider. [7], Spinalonga was one of the last active leper colonies in Europe; others that have survived Spinalonga include Tichileti in eastern Romania, Fontilles in Spain and Talsi in Latvia. The Venetians tried to keep the strategic fort, with the fortresses of Imeri Gramvousa and Souda, hoping to get back the island of Crete in future. Spinalonga is a small island located at the entrance of Elounda lagoon and north of the Gulf of Mirabello. WebFind all the transport options for your trip from Plka to Spinalonga Island right here. Initially, lepers were brought from Crete and, later, from all over Greece. The islet was fortified in antiquity, to protect the ancient city of Olous. Archaeological guide, mps, cards and other souvenirs. What to do in Heraklion, Crete.What to do in Chania, Crete.What to do in Rethymnon, CreteThe best time to visit Crete.A Crete detailed itinerary. [citation needed], Spinalonga is under consideration to become a World Heritage Site. There are also boats from the little village of Plaka just north of Elounda. WebSpinalonga (Greek: ) is an island located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi, next to the town of Plaka.The island is further assigned to the area of Kalydon.It is near the Spinalonga peninsula ("large Spinalonga") which often causes confusion as the same name is used for both.. During Venetian rule, salt was harvested Theres a small museum filled with some photographs from back then, and one or two of the houses have undergone renovation. Entrance Fee: Adults 8.00, concession 4.00 How to get to Spinalonga A day trip to Spinalonga costs between 39 and 146 per person. Designs. Opening hours: From April 1st until October 31st, 08:30-20:00 daily. It has been a Venetian fortress, a castle colony, a rebel refuge, a place of exile for lepers, a communication link with Cairo during the Second World War. Some tours pit stop in Plaka or Elounda too. If weather is good, it is open on weekends. During the Cretan revolt of 1878, only Spinalonga and the fortress at Ierapetra were not taken by the Christian Cretan insurgents. The lepers were cut off from their families and communities, and the island itself was small and had limited resources, leading to basic living conditions. The summer

The strategic position of the rocky islet for the control and defence of Elounda harbour could not but mark Spinalonga with a turbulent history of fierce battles and much human suffering.

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