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Spinalonga Island " Island of Tears"
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Original content © simply Crete Holidays ltd 2006

    Spinalonga is an island fortress on the south western entrance to the Gulf of Elounda. It is 5.6km away from
    Skisma. On the rocky island of Spinalonga, a fortress was built even from ancient ages to protect the port of
    the ancient
    Eloundians. It is reported that many Christians from the surrounding village took refuge in the ruins to save
    themselves during the time that the Saracens overtook Crete.

    In 1579, the Venetian rulers built the powerful fortress that we can admire today, for the safety of the port
    of Elounda, enclosing the area hostile ships. In 1630, the fortress seemed to be impregnable but n 1715, the
    Kapoudan Pasha, the Turkish captain, besieged it at close quarters and took it.

    During the 1821 Revolution, it was a safe haven for many Turks, and during the 19th century it was the
    main port which was importing and exporting goods for the entire region of Mirabello. In 1881, it had 1112
    Ottoman inhabitants who were involve in commerce, and they comprised the local council. During the
    revolution
    of 1821, 1866 and 1897, it was besieged by Cretan rebels. By decision of the State of Crete, from 1904
    Spinalonga was used as a gathering point and place of refuge for Cretans suffering from leprosy. For a half
    century, this barren rocky outcrop had been host to life’s outcasts who lived out a drama of human pain at
    the height
    of their tragedy. Here they found their life’s end as well as the paradise of their dreams.

    With the progress of science, a cure was found to put an end to the misery of these lepers, and the hospital
    was dissolved in 1957. Spinalonga is a recognized archaeological site, and constitutes an identified historical
    grouping, one of the few samples of the art of Venetian island fortification and fortress-building in the
    Eastern Mediterranean. Every year over 30000 Greek and foreign tourist visit the island.

    Spinalonga is the setting for the best selling book by Victoria Hislop, " the Island".
Original content © simply Crete Holidays ltd 2006