Fortress Spinalonga sits as a rocky islet floating in the blue waters of the Gulf of Elounda. The region's 16th century Venetian rulers carved this rock out of Crete's coastline and then built a fortress on it to protect the gulf from hostile ships. The old fortress, apparently as impregnable to the passage of time as it once was to would-be invaders, still dominates the islet and attracts nearly 30,000 annual visitors. Split your time on the little island between the Venetian fort and one of several beaches, which are lapped by shallow, calm waters. There are no tourist facilities here, so bring your own food and water. To visit Fortress Spinalonga on your holiday in Elounda, and find out what else Elounda has to offer, use our Elounda.
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Fortress Spinalonga reviews
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I enjoyed visiting, I am a big fan of Victoria Hislop and her book 'The Island ' based on Spinalona as a leprosy retreat was captivating . I travelled as part of an organised excursion, and our... more »
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We visited as I had read The Island, so Spinalonga was on my bucket list. Caught the boat from Elounda. Thankfully the sea was flat calm, I don’t do boats usually so was proud of myself! We chose to..... more »
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Worth a visit to appreciate the history of the island last inhabited in 1957. The local inhabitants were shipped to the island to be isolated as they suffered from leprosy. Harrowing and at times eerie, stunning views over to the mainland, able to catch a boat trip with a tour guide.
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Very interesting trip. Visitors should take their own food and beverages though, as the prices at the local store are ridiculously high. I’m prepared to pay a bit more but 5 EUR for a 0,33l can of water is exploitation.
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