The island of Spinalonga (Kalidon) has captured the imagination of so many over it's long history. From the depths of the past to the present day people, artists, musicians and authors have imagined and wrote about this island. One of the most visited tourist attraction on Crete, thousands of visitors every year walk along the narrow streets through the village on Spinalonga. Actually the name Spinalonga is Venetian, meaning "Long Thorn" the official name is Kalidon, but so well known as its former name Spinalonga not even the sign posts and the boats that take you the the island will call it anything but by its Venetian name. The Venetians called it Spinalonga after a small island near Venice called the same. This Venetian island has now been renamed Giudecca.
The fortress on the island was built by the Venetians using building materials from an original ancient fortress on the island. It was founded in 1579 by Luca Michiel and the island was used as in defence of Crete usually against the ever expanding Turks and pirates. The Venetians were defeated by the Turks however the island was not and became a safe place for Venetians between 1669-1715. Later in history it was inhabited by Muslims until 1903 and when the Muslims left the island became a leper colony by order of the Greek Government of the time. In 1957 the very last inhabitant left the island and now is one of the most visited islands in Crete. With the passage of time the small village and walls of the fortress began to crumble, however much work has been done on the island over the last few years to repair its crumbling history.
As I wrote before, the island of Spinalonga is the most visited island in Crete and so thousands of tourists visit the island everyday. They catch the boats from Elounda port, there are many. Also Plaka the small village North of Elounda has boats that visit Spinalonga. The temperature on the small island get very hot there seams less wind to cool one down. There is a cafe on the island for refreshments. The walk around the island should take you around 2 hours or longer. There is a footpath that goes all around the island which is not to difficult to walk.
I loved the trip I took to Spinalonga so I award the Spinalonga Island a silver because when you step onto the island you step back into history. The island captures your imagination as it did for one lady who visited it not so long ago. Her name Victoria Hislop the author of "The Island" the best selling book about the lepers of Spinalonga. Maybe it will inspire you to write something about The Island Of Spinalonga.
I loved the trip I took to Spinalonga so I award the Spinalonga Island a silver because when you step onto the island you step back into history. The island captures your imagination as it did for one lady who visited it not so long ago. Her name Victoria Hislop the author of "The Island" the best selling book about the lepers of Spinalonga. Maybe it will inspire you to write something about The Island Of Spinalonga.
Introduction
Spinalonga History
Spinalonga Today
