Spinalonga
The islet in the Gulf of Elounda with the Venetian fortress and the settlement of the former leprosarium, the second most visited monument in Crete.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Spinalonga is a small uninhabited islet, only 85 stremmata in area, with an exceptionally rich history. In antiquity it bore the name Kalydona, and it reached its greatest development under Venetian rule, when it took the name Spinalonga from the Latin spina lunga (“long thorn”). On the ruins of the Hellenistic fortress, the Venetians built one of the most important fortresses of Crete between 1579 and 1586, to protect the harbour of Elounda and the salt pans, from which they supplied Europe with salt.
The strong fortifications allowed the island to remain a Venetian possession for 65 years after the Ottoman conquest of the rest of Crete in 1649, until 1715, when it became an Ottoman settlement. The Cretan Revolution of 1896 led most of the inhabitants to emigrate.
The island is best known for its more recent history. In 1903 the Cretan State designated it an official leprosarium, to which patients suffering from Hansen’s disease were first sent in exile from Crete, and later patients from all over Greece. The life of this closed community is described in the novel “The Island” by Victoria Hislop.
Highlights
- Venetian fortress of the 16th century
- Restored settlement of the former leprosarium
- Boat trip from Plaka, Elounda or Agios Nikolaos
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Λασιθίου
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
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| Reduced | €10People over 65 from Greece and the EU (with ID or passport), teachers accompanying school visits, and parents accompanying primary school pupils from Greece and the EU. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission for children up to 18 years of age, with ID or passport. |
| Seniors | €10Reduced ticket for people over 65 from Greece and the EU, with ID or passport. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with a disability (67% or more) and one companion, with ID or passport and a disability certificate (KEPA or the equivalent from abroad). |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for young people aged 18–25 from Greece and the EU, with ID or passport. |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.
Free and reduced admission also applies to other categories defined by the Ministry of Culture. Tickets are also available online via the Hellenic Heritage platform.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The journey from Agios Nikolaos to Plaka takes about 20 minutes by car and about 30 minutes by bus, while the journey to Elounda takes about 15 minutes by car and about 25 minutes by bus. From there, visitors continue by boat to the island.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
On site there are a café and restaurant, a shop and toilets.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Access to the island is only by boat: from Plaka (about 5 minutes), from Elounda (about 10 minutes) or directly from Agios Nikolaos (about 35 minutes). |
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