Spinalonga, Crete, Greece

Spinalonga

The island of Spinalonga, officially known as Kalydon, is located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete,  next to the town of Elounda. Originally, Spinalonga was not an island, it was part of the island of Crete. During Venetian occupation the island was carved out of the coast for defense purposes and a fort was built there. During Venetian rule, salt was harvested from salt pans around the island.

The island of Spinalonga

But the reason that makes this island so unique is that it has been used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. It is notable for being one of the last active leper colonies in Europe. The last inhabitant, a priest, left the island in 1962. There were two entrances to Spinalonga, one being the lepers' entrance, a tunnel known as "Dante's Gate". This was so named because the patients did not know what was going to happen to them once they arrived. However, once on the island they received food, water, medical attention and social security payments.

Dante's Gate

Bottles of medicines used in Spinalonga

Today, the uninhabited island is a popular tourist attraction in Crete. In addition to the abandoned leper colony and the fortress, Spinalonga is known for its small pebble beaches and shallow waters. The island can easily be accessed from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Tourist boats depart from both towns on a daily basis. There is no accommodation on Spinalonga, meaning all tours last only a few hours.

The uninhabited island of Spianlonga

 Spinalonga featured in the British television series "Who Pays the Ferryman?" and Werner Herzog's experimental short film "Last Words".  It is also the setting for the 2005 novel "The Island" by Victoria Hislop, the story of a family's ties to the leper colony. The book was adapted for television by Mega Channel Greece. 

Scene of Mega Channel's production

The castle of Spinalonga

 Panoramic:

Elafonisos, Lakonia, Greece

Elafonisos is a beautiful island located at the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese, only 570 meters from the opposite Peloponnesian coast. In antiquity, Elafonisos did not constitute an island but a peninsula with the name "Onou Gnathos". 

On the way to Sarakiniko beach (Paradise)

The village of Elafonisos

The population is between 300 and 350 during the winter but increases dramatically in the summer months. During July and August the number of tourist visitors reach over 3,000 per day. Many people visit the island for its light coloured, sandy beaches. Among the most well known of its beaches are Sarakiniko, Fragos (Simos) and Panagias Nissia, all filled with blue-green waters.

The twin beaches of Sarakiniko and Simos

The crystal clear sea of Elafonisos

The current name the Elafonissos (Island of the Deers), according to research of Stamoulis Iakovos and Kroupis Ilias, is due to the rich hunting that existed in the region from the antiquity as it is reported by the Pausanias there was a statuary of Artemis (Goddess of hunting) in the region. Also, the existence of a population of deers of red colour.

Agios Spyridonas, Elafonisos

Frango (Simos)- Saracenico
This is the majestic twin beaches, the small and large bays on the south eastern tip of the island, opposite the Kythera and the Spathi tip. The amazing colours of the sea, a combination with thin light gold coloured sand Unique are the Cedar trees which can be found in Simos, Panagia ta Nisia, Megalo tigani and Kalogeras. In August, in the sand of beach blossom the sandy crinum, which you are advised not to cut, so it's seeds fertise.

The twin beaches

Where to stay

• Simos Camping

Elafonisos, Greece