Spinalonga island a Crete holiday must-see

The island of Spinalonga could make an interesting addition to the list of must-see sights for those heading off on Crete villa holidays.

Known as one of the last active leper colonies in Europe, this small land mass was the setting of the bestselling novel The Island by Victoria Hislop.

From 1903 it was home to hundreds of people with leprosy. Previously, lepers from Crete and other parts of Greece had been living in the caves around Heraklion.

Now unoccupied, the island has become a major tourist attraction and can be accessed by boat from the villages of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

Much of the colony is still well-preserved and visitors will be able to see numerous buildings, including shops, small houses and cafes.

Holiday makers will enter Spinalonga through a tunnel known as Dante's Gate, so named because the lepers who were sent to the island were unaware of their fate when they arrived.

There is also a small museum where visitors can learn more about the history of the colony, which was abandoned in the 1950s.

Holiday makers who want to add a trip to Spinalonga to their Crete holiday itinerary can rent a villa in Agios Nikolaos, from where they can catch a boat.

The resort is home to a wide range of attractions, including an open air theatre and numerous shops, bars and restaurants.

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