Memorable Moment: Discovering the otherworldly charm of Spinalonga

A small, pear-shaped and now abandoned island rests just off of the coast of Elounda, an island that hosts one of Crete’s most intriguing history chapters complete with tales of loss and hardship yet ultimately a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This is Spinalonga, home to an imposing Venetian fortress dating back to the 16th century but also the site of Greece’s only leper colony from 1903 to 1957. This tiny enigmatic isle gained international recognition through Victoria Hislop’s 2005 heart-wrenching novel, The Island, and has since featured prominently on tourist maps as a must-see destination.