spinalonga opening times

They organised their home, fell in love, married, had children. With the raised interest of many tourists, the local authorities started in 70s to systematically repair and renovate old buildings, fortifications of the Venetian walls, old houses and roads, and tore the buildings of the hospital down. The tour ends with a drop-off at your accommodation in Heraklion. Project code | LISBOA-02-0752-FEDER-047612 It is very beautiful. Spinalonga Adult ticket 8 , reduced ticket 4 . In winter, the facility opens only on request for groups. Despite these challenges, the lepers who lived on Spinalonga were able to form a community and support each other. [2] These three forts defended Venetian trade routes and were also useful bases in the event of a new Venetian-Turkish war for Crete. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. The island has a small beach where visitors can swim and sunbathe. Different boats (several companies but one departure point) - generally smaller boats, Different boats (several companies but one departure point) - my boat was large enough and stable, Mix of free and not free carparks around town, The trips to Spinlaonga from Agios Nikolaos are more organized tours including a lunch and the opportunity to swim at one of the beaches along the way, For example you can start this tour from Agios Nikolaos, and it includes lunch and wine tasting -, Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for comfort on mountain roads). [3] Many Christians found refuge in these fortresses to escape persecution from the Ottoman Turks. This page about Spinalonga island, Spinalonga fortress is protected by International Copyright Law The integrity of the site is protected given that the islet is a designated archaeological site. Total eligible cost | EUR 383,452.75 Elounda Bay, Elounda, Crete 72053, Greece, Firkas Fortress And Maritime Museum Of Crete. Under the terms of the treaty for the surrender of Chandax (Heraklion) in 1669, Spinalonga remained a Venetian possession. Entrance Fee: Adults 8.00, concession 4.00 How to get to Spinalonga Many died 'alive' in terrible pain, deformed and fragmented. Spinalonga has appeared in novels, television series, and a short film. It is sure to be an enjoyable experience especially for history and architecture enthusiasts. The stones and the rocks in the empty houses hide and do not show the horrors of yesterday, the laments and the cries because of the pains in the body of hundreds patients. Summer: Daily 8:00-19:00. The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international communitys efforts to protect and preserve. The same applies to the islands of Chacachacare (Trinidad and Tobago), Sorok (South Korea), Fantome (Australia), Quail (New Zealand) and Culion (Philippines). Spinalonga belonged to Olounda, which flourished until the 8th century when the threat of Arab pirates forced residents to move away from the beach. Entrance Fee (): 8, Reduced 4 Website: odysseus.culture.gr e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. WebOpening Hours The island is accessible from April 1st to October 31st, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm during fair weather conditions. [1] The Venetians were inspired for this expression by the name of an island near Venice called by the same name and which is known today as the island of Giudecca. Entrance Fee: Adults 8.00, concession 4.00 How to get to Spinalonga Grab a cocktail at a bar, go souvenir shopping and learn about some of Cretes famed attractions. The tours typically include round-trip boat transportation to and from Spinalonga, as well as guided tours of the island. Moreover, due to the leper hospital, Spinalonga is a monument to human pain. WebFind all the transport options for your trip from Plka to Spinalonga Island right here. Though the characters were fictional, the story of an isolated Plan your trip to Crete with the following resources: The best things to do in Crete. Telephone: +30 28410 22462 - 28361 - 90511 WebSpinalonga (Kalydon) 4.5 9,829 reviews #1 of 22 things to do in Elounda Historic Sites Islands Closed now 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Visit website Call Email Write a review About Suggested duration 2-3 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. A cure for leprosy was discovered in 1948 which saw a gradual decrease in patients, many able to return home to their families on Crete and the mainland, with the remaining 20 patients moved to Athens in 1957 at which point Spinalongas use as a leper colony ceased. Spinalonga is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6 PM during the summer season. WebFrom Elounda harbour, there is a boat to Spinalonga every 30 minutes throughout the summer. In fact, you can see it while standing on the shore of the main island! WebSpinalonga 3.4 4.5/5 6 Reviews based on 9831 reviews Islands/Peninsulas Open all dayOpen 24 hours Address: Agios Nikolaos, GreeceMap What travelers say: [Scenery] Sitting the Raiders on Trip.com is difficult to choose between Nisseros and Spinnalunga Island. Trainers are recommended if you want to make the climb up to the tower to enjoy the view, otherwise, flip-flops will suffice. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The tours typically include round-trip boat transportation to and from Spinalonga, as well as guided tours of the island. In 1976 Spinalonga was designated an archaeological site and started to see tourists but it wasnt until Victoria Hislop wrote her book (resulting in a hit Greek TV series) that Spinalonga became truly popular with thousands of people now visiting each day during the peak Summer season. Since there is no accommodation on Spinalonga, the tours last only a few hours. Before youre dropped back in Heraklion, relax, drink, eat and be merry with lunch and wine tasting at a vineyard in Plaka. Spinalonga is a tiny islet not far The total travel time on the roads is over three hours. In 1903, it was converted into a leper colony, where people with leprosy were sent to live in isolation from society. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed During the day, a professional guide will take care of you and provide detailed information about Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. it has a long tumultuous history under Venetian and Ottoman ruling. [4], At the end of the Ottoman occupation the island, together with the fort at Ierapetra, was the refuge of many Ottoman families that feared Christian reprisals. Subsequently, the region acquired commercial value and became inhabited. Ask a Question. Crete without the gods (1935). WebOpening Hours The island is accessible from April 1st to October 31st, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm during fair weather conditions. Known in the past as the island of the outcasts, it covers an area of 8,500 square meters and is most famous for housing the leper colony that Victoria Hislop wrote about in her bestselling book The Island. Spinalonga is an excellent and unique example of the use of a historical monument as a leper colony without alterations of its appearance. During the Italian-German occupation, the occupiers did not dare to release the lepers, and were forced to take care of them, since the opposite village of Plaka was evacuated. WebFrom April 1st until October 31th Opening hours 08:30-18:00 daily Tuesday: open. The best Cretan beaches. WebSpinalonga (Kalydon) 4.5 9,829 reviews #1 of 22 things to do in Elounda Historic Sites Islands Closed now 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Visit website Call Email Write a review About Suggested duration 2-3 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. After booking my 4-day trip to Crete, it took me about a minute to also book a Spinalonga tour from Heraklion.. Increase the capacity to generate traffic, increase the value of completed transactions, increase the export rate in 2022, contribute to the diversification of national export markets. - Web-design and SEO by ArtKreta.gr, Prices for the boat trip to Spinalonga in 2010, Hotel Reviews, Bar and Restaurant Reviews. The life of this settlement stopped abruptly because of the political changes that took place in Crete during the last years of the 19th century. Once you arrive on the island, you can explore the well-preserved fortifications and learn about its history as a leper colony. Criterion(vi): The use of Spinalonga as a leper colony, the most tragic part of its history, emphasizes the unique character of the island. During the Hellenistic period or the Minoan years, the island was a stronghold of Olounites, which was built to protect the port of the ancient city Olous. You will need to pay entrance to visit the historical site. Discover its long history from your guide on this fascinating day trip from the Heraklion area. [citation needed] The island has also been used as a leper colony. Ever since I read the bestseller, The Island by Victoria Hislop (aka one of the best books set in Greece), I knew I wanted to visit Crete and Spinalonga island. The island was then abandoned until it was opened to tourists in the 1970s. Also, the whole coastal area of Elounda had been fortified with machine guns, underground mines, firearms, etc, since German feared a possible invasion of the British in that area. 2022 Greece Travel Ideas. Well, it is one of the most visited places in Crete so there are groups of tourists everywhere. There are also boats from the little village of Plaka just north of Elounda. These are March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and Oct. 28, as well as the first Sunday of every month from Nov.1 to March 31. The last inhabitant, a priest, left the island in 1962. The fort had a double line of walls and towers and had a total of 35 cannons. Apparently Kolokytha used to be joined to Spinalonga (which is why it shared the same name), but in 1526 the Venetians cut a canal between the two, forming this small island. Ever since I read the bestseller, The Island by Victoria Hislop (aka one of the best books set in Greece), I knew I wanted to visit Crete and Spinalonga island. There were two entrances to Spinalonga, one being the lepers entrance, a tunnel known as "Dante's Gate". You can access it by boat from Agios Nikolaos, which takes around 20-30 minutes, or Plaka, or Elounda, which takes less than 10 minutes. Up until 1957, the entire island was home to a leper colony where those infected were able to live in harmony. WebOpening Hours: Summer: Daily 8:00-19:00. Delight your senses with juices, drinks, and signature cocktails of your choice. There are also boats from the little village of Plaka just north of Elounda. The trip from here is shorter, taking about 7 minutes, as Plaka is directly opposite Spinalonga. The colony operated until 1957, when the last patients were moved to a hospital on the mainland. Previously, such amenities had been unavailable to Crete's leprosy patients, as they mostly lived in the area's caves, away from civilization. Much later, in 1957, another name, Kalydon, was proposed for the island, in an unsuccessful attempt to replace the Latinate Spinalonga with a Greek name. Spinalonga (Greek: ) is an island located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi, next to the town of Plaka. Today many well-built two-storey houses and shops remain; their morphology and symmetrical proportions are indicative of the principles of local and Balkan architectural tradition. After 1957 and for several decades, the island remained abandoned. What to do in Heraklion, Crete. There are annual days of the year when the entrance to the island is free. WHICH ARE THE BEST GREEK ISLANDS IN OCTOBER TO VISIT? Premium Joomla Templates FREE High-quality Joomla! It takes about 20 minutes to reach the island, while the sea voyage sometimes includes a sail around the Kolokytha Peninsula. The village flourished after the mid-19th century, until by 1881 it housed a population of 1,112 and was the largest Muslim commercial centre of Merabello Bay. And from Spinalonga, as Plaka is directly opposite Spinalonga Spinalonga every minutes. 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