| Spinalonga Island |
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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.
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