Spinalonga Island – Kritsa – Panagia Kera – Agios Nikolaos Town

Driving east along the north coast and enjoying the lovely view of the Cretan Sea, we reach the fishing village of Elounda.

Spinalonga, the “island of tears” can be reached by taking a short cruise through the blue waters from Elounda. This island was initially a Venetian stronghold, then inhabited by the Turks. Between 1903 and 1957 hundreds of Greece’s lepers were shipped here and then forbidden to leave. It is noted as being one of the last active leper colonies in Europe. You can take a walk around the remains of the colony, which gives you the chance to see the main street with the houses where the lepers attempted to live ordinary lives. It is a place not to be missed!

The next destination is the village of Kritsa, where you can visit the three-aisled, domed church of Panagia Kera, which is one of the most important monuments of Crete. The central aisle, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was probably constructed during the Middle Byzantine period.

Then we visit the town of Agios Nikolaos, a city with unique features, starting with the small lake, an especially picturesque site which is connected to the sea by a narrow inlet.