Spinalonga

  The islet of Spinalonga is located at the entrance of the Elounta bay. In antiquity there was a fortress of the Olounites. In 1579 the Venetians built an imposing fortress and the islet was used as a military camp during the Venetian - Ottoman wars which ended with the subjection of Crete to the Turks in 1669. It is noteworthy that the fortified Spinalonga was occupied by the Ottomans only in the early 18th century and was used as a settlement until the end of the 19th centrury. From 1903 until 1957, by law of the Cretan and later the Greek State, Spinalonga was established as a settlement for the lepers.