Crete, Episode 5

14/3/2020

I miss the Greek sun, last year at that time I was writing my book in Crete: My Solo Wedding in Santorini.

So, for this new episode of the Crete series, I take you to the northeast of the island.

Agios Nikolaos with 27,000 inhabitants is the 5th biggest city in Crete.

It was built during the Bronze Age and has the particularity of a small lagoon in the middle of the city: the Lake Voulismeni.

Legend tells that Athena bathed in it.

This small lake of 137 metres in diameter, was later connected to the port, by a canal dug by the French Army in 1907.

This little town is absolutely charming, I love it. It offers countless views of the city and the sea. I like wandering through its streets or relaxing on a bar terrace ...

From Agios Nikolaos, departure by boat to Spinalonga Island.

This island was used in ancient times as an army base, with a fortress erected in the centre, to protect the port of Elounda (coastal city).

In 1579, the Venetians reused this space and built a large fortress, with high walls and circular bastions on the hill. These are the vestiges we rediscover today.

Then, the Turks took possession of it from 1715 to the beginning of the 20th century.

In the time of Coronavirus... It wasn’t long ago that people who had leprosy were isolated in leper colonies to protect healthy people.

Spinalonga was, from 1904 to 1957, a place of confinement for lepers. Without real help from the Greek government, they learnt to survive on this island. Finally, in 1957, sick people were transferred near Athens to be healed.

Leprosy is still present today in a hundred countries in the world, including India, Brazil, Indonesia, Nepal, Mozambique, Madagascar ...

Since 1976, the island has been protected as an archaeological site and buildings from the 20th century have been destroyed, leaving only the Venetian vestiges.

And if you missed my previous articles on Crete: