Spinalonga is a rocky island situated at the northern mouth of the gulf of Elounda.
The island was maintained as a fortress for centuries under Venetian rule (1210-1715), then
during Ottoman period (1715-1903) became a refuge for Muslim families fearing persecution, and finally a leper colony (1904-1957).
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.
