The island of Spinalonga (official name Calydon) is located in the Gulf of Elounda in the northeast of the island of Crete, Lasithi prefecture, opposite the town of Elounda. It is located near the peninsula Kolokita ("Big Spinalonga").

In ancient times, the island of Spinalonga, like Kolokita peninsula was part of the island of Crete. In place of the modern Elounda was a rich Greek and later Roman port city of Olous. After the earthquake in the 2nd century AD Olous almost completely disappeared under the water, and between Crete and Kolokita formed bay and a narrow isthmus. Since the mid-7th century Elounda and the surrounding area became practically deserted because of the constant pirate raids.

In the middle of the 15th century the Venetians began to extract salt here, and the region began to develop rapidly. Take into account the commercial value of the area, the constant pirate raids and Turkish threat appeared, the Venetians in 1526 separated the peninsula and created the island of Spinalonga, the main purpose of which was to strengthen the protection of the port of Elounda. In 1578 the Venetians commissioned engineer Bressani plan fortifications of the island. He created blockhouses at the highest points of the northern and southern sides of Spinalonga, and the strengthening of the ring along the coast to protect the island from the enemy landing. In 1579 it was laid the first stone in the foundation of the fortress. Later, on a hilltop created additional strengthening. Despite the fact that in 1669 gave Crete Turks, Venetians retained control of the island of Spinalonga before 1715.

Spinalonga is also known as the "island of lepers," as it housed a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. One of the gates of the fortress called "Dante's Gate" and adapted for entry of newcomers patients who did not know that way back they will not be back and they will not return. Still, it was better, as the island they had food, medical care and less suitable conditions for housing. Earlier lepers expelled from the community and, as a rule, lived out his life in a cave away from civilization. It was one of the last colonies of existing leprosy patients in Europe. The last person left the island in 1962. Since the island is uninhabited.

Today, Spinalonga is one of the most visited tourist destinations. You can get here from the Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.