During the day, a professional guide will take care of you and provide detailed information about Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. The salterns of Elounda were of foremost importance for Venetians, who wanted to continue trading salt in East and West Europe, especially after having lost the salterns of Cyprus. WebWhat are the opening times? The bus will pick you up in the morning from your hotel or the nearest pick up point and bring you back in the evening. A cistern from the Venetian areas, an some more recent ones. The stones and the rocks in the empty houses hide and do not show the horrors of yesterday, the laments and the cries because of the pains in the body of hundreds patients. Spinalonga Address: Elounda Bay, Elounda, Crete 72053, Greece, Best time to visit Spinalonga(preferred time): 10:00 am - 02:00 pm, Time required to visit Spinalonga: 04:00 Hrs. All rights reserved, Useful Tips, Hints and Advice for Driving in Greece, When Is The Best Time To Visit Greece (A Locals Guide), The Perfect 3-Day Paros Itinerary for First Timers, The Perfect 3-Day Naxos Itinerary for First Timers. The village flourished after the mid-19 th century, until by 1881 it housed a population of 1,112 and was the The islands two churches on the island, Agios Panteleimon and Agios Georgios. 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. In fact, you can see it while standing on the shore of the main island! This can be a lovely time to explore the island (weather permitting) as rather than sightseeing alongside hundreds of other tourists you will likely be able to explore the island on your own with just the archaeological workers for the company. The tours typically include round-trip boat transportation to and from Spinalonga, as well as guided tours of the island. Spinalonga is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6 PM during the summer season. Spinalonga is a small island located at the entrance of Elounda lagoon and north of the Gulf of Mirabello. Initially, patients arrived from Crete, but after the unification with Greece in 1913 patients also came from the mainland. There are other nice fortifications to visit in Crete that are not so crowded, The official name of the islet is actually Kalydon (as it used to be attached to it, but the Venetians transformed it into an islet), It is located on the North shore, along the Spinalonga peninsula, Planning info to make the most of your time, Once you are on the island, the doors of the archaeological sites are opened at least 9am to 5:45pm (what the signed on the door said) but it can be from 8am in Summer (according to the. Ever since I read the bestseller, The Island by Victoria Hislop (aka one of the best books set in Greece), I knew I wanted to visit Crete and Spinalonga island. Finally, I decided to go and see it. After booking my 4-day trip to Crete, it took me about a minute to also book a Spinalonga tour from Heraklion.. As of 2002, few lazarettos remain in Europe. After the Fall of Candia in 1669, Spinalonga remained under the control of Venice. The boat will bring you to the beautiful beach of Kolokitha for swimming and a barbeque lunch (included in the price). What to do in Heraklion, Crete. As a result, people with leprosy were often sent to live in leper colonies like Spinalonga in order to prevent the spread of the disease and to isolate those affected from the rest of society. Contribute/Review. Stop off in a town with a port like Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka, with time to explore the local sites, and board the boat to the island. Ticket Price: 20 EUR. Spinalonga Adult ticket 8 , reduced ticket 4 . It is no coincidence that the small island of Giudecca near Venice was also known as Spinalonga. The island is open from 8 AM to 6 PM for some public holidays. It is very beautiful. The buildings used during the colony still exist, with traces of the Venetian period. There, he experienced the tragic reality and was interested in upgrading the conditions of residence and treatment of the unfortunate people of Spinalonga. WHICH ARE THE BEST GREEK ISLANDS IN OCTOBER TO VISIT? 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. Large parts of the village on the island have also remained authentic. The history of the island still inspires awe. None Italian or German dared to enter the colony. Previously, such amenities had been unavailable to Crete's leprosy patients, as they mostly lived in the area's caves, away from civilization. Many residents had their own homes and there were shops, a school, a market, churches, a cinema, and aKafenio (cafe). Whether you take a guided tour or explore on your own, Spinalonga despite its fantastic views and quaint ruined architecture can still send a shiver up your spine, no less than when you disembark from the boat and make your way through the entrance gate along the gloomy entrance tunnel (known as Dantes Gate) that marked the loss of freedom for the lepers Imagine walking through here knowing that this was a one-way passage and that you wouldnt be allowed to leave.