Spinaloga, Crete
The postcard this week was sent by our friend while he was with a group of cyclists touring Crete. The used card is a Michalis Toubis S.A. Editions and has a picture of Spinaloga or Spinalonga in English.
As depicted on the postcard Spinaloga is a separate island; however, originally it was a peninsula connected to the larger island of Crete. For defense purpose Spinaloga was separated by cutting down a portion of the peninsula in 1526 and the round fort, seen in the center of the islet with a wall also visible on the coastline, was also built in the 1500s. The ancient port of Olous became a ghost town in the 7th century due to constant raids by Arab pirates. When the Venetians began harvesting the salt pans along the coast of Spinaloga the port of Olous was rebuilt to facilitate the salt trade.
Today the island is a popular tourist attraction but no longer has a resident population. The island was also home to a leper colony that is now abandoned. There are tourist boats that depart from the towns of Plaka, Elounda and Agio Nikolaos daily for Spinaloga but there are no accommodations on the islet. All tours last only a few hours before returning to Crete.
Thanks to our friend for sending the card.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinalonga
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