Spinalonga fortress
Spinalonga is a fortified islet at the north entrance of the Gulf of Elounda, north of Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete. Spinalonga carries a Venetian fortress begun in 1579, and from 1904 to 1957 it was the leprosarium of Crete.
The islet covers 85 stremmata, about 8.5 hectares, and rises to 53 m. It sits in a key position for controlling the natural harbour of the gulf, and it was fortified both in antiquity and by Venice. Today it is an archaeological site of the Greek Ministry of Culture, reached by boat.
The Venetian fortress of Spinalonga
The Venetian fortress of Spinalonga stands on the ruins of an older one. The islet was first fortified in antiquity, most likely in the Hellenistic period, with a large circuit wall, and in ancient times it held a fortress of the people of Olous.
Venice built the new fortress on the bastioned system, to designs by Genese Bressani and Latino Orsini. The first building phase ran from 1579 to 1586, and the fortress was repaired and altered before and during the Cretan War of 1645 to 1669. Under Venice it was a military post, and the buildings inside the walls housed the garrison.
During the Cretan War, refugees and rebels known as chainides used the islet as a base to harass the Ottoman forces. When Chandakas, today’s Heraklion, surrendered in 1669, the treaty left Spinalonga in Venetian hands.
Spinalonga under Ottoman rule
Spinalonga passed to the Ottomans in 1715, and a wholly Ottoman settlement gradually grew up inside the walls. For the first centuries of Ottoman rule the fortress was sidelined and used as a place of exile and isolation.
The 19th century changed its fortunes. The port gained a licence for export trade, and the islet filled with residents, mostly merchants and sailors working the trade routes of the Eastern Mediterranean from the safety of the walled settlement. In the last years of Ottoman rule it was a safe refuge for Ottoman families.
That life ended in the late 19th century. The insecurity caused by the Christian revolts drove most of the residents to emigrate, and from 1897 French troops were stationed on the islet for about a year.
The leprosarium, 1904 to 1957
The leprosarium of Spinalonga was set up by the Cretan State. In 1903 the Cretan government passed a law requiring people with leprosy to be isolated, and chose Spinalonga as the place where they could receive coordinated care. The Ministry of Culture dates the leprosarium period from 1904 to 1957, when the last patients left.
The hard life of the patients who lived on the island marked it deeply. The Ministry of Culture describes Spinalonga as a place of suffering and of historical memory.
Visiting Spinalonga
Spinalonga is open to visitors from 1 April to 31 October, from 08:00 to 20:00 every day, according to the Ministry of Culture. The site closes from 1 November to 31 March, when it opens only on request for groups. Every visit depends on the weather and on the boat schedules.
The Ministry lists the full ticket at €20 and the reduced ticket at €10. Admission is free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September and 28 October.
The main path around the islet is accessible to visitors with disabilities. A shop on the site sells an archaeological guide, maps, cards and souvenirs.
Things to do near Spinalonga
Spinalonga has 8 beaches, towns and sites within 6 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at Spinalonga beach, beside the fortress itself.
- Try Tsifliki beach, also called Driros, 1.0 km south-west.
- Relax at Plaka beach, 1.1 km north-west, in the village the boats leave from.
- Head south to Armos beaches, 1.7 km away.
- Swim at Agia Paraskevi beaches, 2.5 km south-west.
- Spend time in Elounda, 4.1 km south, another departure point for the boats.
- Find Kolokytha beach, 4.2 km south.
- Visit the Areti Monastery at Karydi, 5.4 km west.
Getting to Spinalonga
Spinalonga is reached only by boat. Shuttle boats run daily at fixed times from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka, according to the Ministry of Culture.
Plaka is the closest departure point, 1.1 km across the water from the fortress. Elounda lies 4.1 km south, and Agios Nikolaos lies further south.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Spinalonga?
Spinalonga is an islet at the north entrance of the Gulf of Elounda, north of Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete.
How do you get to Spinalonga?
You get to Spinalonga by shuttle boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka, which run daily at fixed times.
When was Spinalonga a leper colony?
Spinalonga was a leprosarium from 1904 to 1957, after the Cretan State passed the law setting it up in 1903.
Who built the Spinalonga fortress?
The Spinalonga fortress was built by Venice from 1579, to designs by Genese Bressani and Latino Orsini, on the ruins of an ancient fortress.
Is Spinalonga open in winter?
Spinalonga is closed from 1 November to 31 March, and opens in that period only on request for groups.
How much is a ticket to Spinalonga?
A ticket to Spinalonga costs €20, or €10 reduced, according to the Ministry of Culture.
Location
Spinalonga fortress is located at Spinalonga, Ελούντα, Elounta, Crete 720 53, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
