Spinalonga

Spinalonga

Spinalonga is a tiny rocky islet in the Gulf of Elounda in northeastern Crete, just 0.08 square kilometres guarding the entrance to the natural harbour of Elounda. Fortified by the Venetians in 1579 on the remains of an ancient acropolis, its massive sea walls, bastions and narrow village streets rise directly from the water, with views back to Crete across a shallow channel.

Famous as one of Europe’s last active leper colonies, operating from 1903 to 1957, and as the setting for Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island, Spinalonga is now an uninhabited archaeological site visited by boats from Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Stripped of residents after the colony closed, it preserves both Venetian fortress and the crumbling houses, church and disinfecting station of the leper village.

The 85,000 sq m teardrop islet at the mouth of Elounda Gulf with 400m x 200m footprint

Spinalonga is a rocky island situated at the northern mouth of the gulf of Elounda in Lasithi prefecture of Crete, to the south a narrow strip of water separates it from Kolokitha island while east is open to Sea of Crete. It is only 85,000 square meters in size and 8.5 hectares, tiny 400m x 200m teardrop-shaped island in eastern Crete about 12 km north of Agios Nikolaos, also listed as 85 acres, arid and barren rocky islet with steep cliffs at northern side, part of Kalydon made up of island of Spinalonga, Peninsula Spinalonga and island of Kolokythas along with smaller islets.

During leper colony era 1904-1957 island had local nickname the island of the living dead, best known as site of Greece’s former leper colony which operated between 1904 and 1957, made famous by British writer Victoria Hislop in novel The Island 2005. First 251 patients settled there in 1904, originally lepers from Crete then after 1913 from rest of country. Last inhabitant a priest left island in 1962. Today second most visited site in Crete after Knossos, with small pebble beaches and shallow waters.

This is for you if you want Venetian fortress plus leper colony ghost town in one walk. It is not for beach day only; you come for layered history — ancient Cretan town, Venetian castle, Ottoman fort, isolation settlement until cure discovered.

How to time your visit and why the name was taboo for decades

Access is only by boat, and timing changes everything. Approach island from Elounda and Plaka by boat — boat cost from Elounda €14 included return, boat from Plaka €10 return, less than 10 minutes from Plaka, with cooperative running every 30 minutes and you are not limited by timed return boats, catch any back. Entrance cost for Spinalonga fortress €8 per person. It takes about an hour to walk around entire island but there is no rush. Evening is quieter, far fewer people — locals advise reading The Island before you travel.

The critical context guidebooks skip: reference to name was taboo for many years as it was identified with pain and suffering of lepers living isolated from community, and island is barren but little town where lepers lived until late 1950s is like ghost town with ruined houses and buildings of settlement that was from 1903-1957 official leper colony, plus remains of 16th-century Venetian fortress with walls, gates, fortifications, squares and narrow passages. What you see from coast are fortress remains, but unique part is that ghost community that once boasted thriving community going about business, now echoes with tourist footsteps — one of last leper colonies in Europe.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinalonga | leper colony era 1904-1957 local nickname island living dead Geography rocky island situated northern mouth gulf Elounda To south narrow strip water separates Kolokitha island east open Sea Crete only 85000 square meters size largely rocky steep cliffs northern side
  2. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1918577/spinalonga-greece-leper-colony | small teardrop-shaped islet just off northern coast Crete near Elounda best known site Greece former leper colony operated between 1904 1957
  3. https://himetop.wikidot.com/spinalonga-leper-colony | arid barren rocky islet area 8.5 hectares lying mouth natural port Elounda Lasithi prefecture Crete 1903 Cretan State established leper colony island first 251 patients settled 1904 Originally lepers coming only Crete deported here after 1913 when island became part Greece lepers rest country also came
  4. https://www.grecomap.com/crete/spinalonga/ | Today tiny 400m x 200m teardrop-shaped island eastern Crete about 12 km north Agios Nikolaos best-known recent history 1903-1957 leper colony made famous British writer Victoria Hilsop novel The Island 2005
  5. https://crete-travel.gr/spinalonga-island/ | small arid barren rocky island 85 acres natural harbor Elounda Lasithi Crete reference name island taboo many years identified pain suffering Lepers living there isolated local community
  6. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1891514-d7087303-Reviews-SPINALONGA_KALYDON-Elounda_Crete.html | approach island Elounda Plaka boat boat cost Elounda 14.00 included return entrance cost Spinalonga fortress 8.00 per person walk through fortifications squares narrow passages built Venetian era
  7. https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g1891514-d7087303-Reviews-SPINALONGA_KALYDON-Elounda_Crete.html | ancient Cretan town once later Venetian castle later Ottoman fort isolation settlement people sick leprosy recent years until cure discovered natural fortress lot see every step walls gates fortifications churches small community ill people worth visit Entrance fee 8 euros boat Plaka 10 euros come also return

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Last Updated on September 2, 2026 by admin