Native name: Σπιναλόγκα (Καλυδών) | |
|---|---|
 Panoramic view from the mountain | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 35°17′51″N 25°44′17″E / 35.29750°N 25.73806°E |
| Archipelago | Cretan Islands |
| Area | 0.085 km2 (0.033 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Lasithi |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2001) |
Spinalonga (Greek: Σπιναλόγκα) is an island in the Gulf of Elounda, north-eastern Crete, in the municipality of Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, next to the town of Plaka in the area of Kalydon. It is near the Spinalonga peninsula ("large Spinalonga") – which often causes confusion as the same name is used for both.
The island was maintained as a fortress for centuries under Venetian rule. It later became a refuge for Muslim families fearing persecution, and finally a leper colony in the early 20th century. It has been uninhabited since 1962; though it has undergone some restoration work in the years since. Today it is the second most visited tourist site in Crete, and sixth in Greece overall.[1][2]