The island of Spinalonga (official name of Kalidon) is located in the Gulf of Elounda in North-Eastern Crete, nom Lasithi, opposite to the town of Elounda. It is located near the Peninsula Kolokita ("Big Spinalonga").

In ancient times the island of Spinalonga as the Peninsula Kolokita, was part of Crete. Modern Elounda was a rich Greek and later Roman port city of Olous. After the earthquake in the 2nd century BC Olos almost completely under water, and between Crete and Kolokita Bay and formed a narrow isthmus. From the middle of the 7th century Elounda and the surrounding area became almost deserted because of the constant pirate raids.

In the mid 15th century, the Venetians began to produce salt here, and the region began to develop rapidly. Take into account the commercial value of the area, the constant pirate raids by the Turkish threat, the Venetians in 1526 separated part of the Peninsula and created the island of Spinalonga, the main purpose of which was to enhance the protection of the port of Elounda. In 1578, the Venetians asked the engineer Bressani layout of the fortifications of the island. He created the blockhouses on the highest points of the Northern and southern side of the Island, as well as the strengthening of the ring along the coast to protect the island against enemy landings. In 1579 was laid the first stone in the Foundation of the fortress. Later on top of the hill were established further strengthening. Despite the fact that in 1669 Crete surrendered to the Turks, the Venetians kept control of the island of Spinalonga before 1715.

Spinalonga is also known as the "island of the lepers", as it housed a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. One of the gates of the fortress called "the Gates of Dante," and adapted for admission of newly arrived patients, who did not know that way back they will be gone and they will not return. But still it was better because on the island they had food, medical care and less suitable conditions for living. Previously, patients with leprosy were banished from society and, as a rule, lived out their days in caves far from civilization. It was one of the last existing colonies of leprosy patients in Europe. The last people left the island in 1962. Since then, the island was uninhabited.

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