The island can easily be accessed from plaka, elounda and agios nikolaos. The island is a historical novel written by victoria hislop. It is near the spinalonga peninsula large spinalonga which often causes confusion as the same name is used for both. Thirty years ago my book spinalonga the leper island was the first guide published about this small, rocky island which lies in the bay of mirabello, crete. I have just finished reading victoria hislops book the island about spinalonga and the life of the lepers there. The story of the book takes place on the island of spinalonga, during its years as a leper colony. Spinalonga plaka elounda holidays apartments athina. Explore enchanting spinalonga island off cretes north coast on this fullday tour. Set on the island of spinalonga, off the coast of crete, and on the village of plaka which lies within swimming distance across it, the island tells the story of alexis fielding, a woman on the cusp of a lifechanging decision. Hi all for those of you who want to watch the tv series the island which has recently been screened on greek tv mega channel, you can view the whole series with english sub titles on the following. Bbc travel the abandoned greek island shrouded in mystery. This book informs in an enlightening and sensitive way and portrays the human face to this horrible illness.
The book was also nominated for the book of the year award at the same event. After its surrender, spinalonga became a refuge for christians fleeing turkish depredations. Just off the coast is the tiny island of spinalonga, where the nations leper colony once was locateda place that has haunted four generations of petrakis women. Also on many boat trips to the island you get the chance to jump off the boat at a secluded location and have a bbq and relax on the beach. Spinalonga is a small island off crete near elounda.
The name spinalonga is venetian meaning long thorn. It was an immediate success and led to melina mercouri placing a preservation order on the island. Originally published in 2002 in german, and winner of multiple german and french book awards, armin greders the island is now available in english. Book your tickets online for spinalonga kalydon, elounda.
While this picture book might be disturbing for the very young, it is an allegory that can be appreciated by all ages the publisher indicates 818. The island of spinalonga crete, former leper colony. A walk around spinalonga with some of the finest views of the clear blue waters that surround the island will guide you through the pages of the novel. Spinalonga was an important venetian fortress which became a leper colony in 1903. The island tv series about leper colony in spinalonga. The island is further assigned to the area of kalydon. Boat day trips spinalonga elounda 2020 all you need to. Sep 22, 2017 the abandoned greek island shrouded in mystery for decades after it was abandoned, not much was known about the greek island of spinalonga or its days as a leper colony but all that is.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Made famous by victoria hislops book the island spinalonga was europes last leper colony in the days when the disease was incurable. It is also the setting for the 2005 novel the island by victoria hislop, the story of a familys ties to the leper colony. It became an international bestseller and a 26part greek tv series. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. To its east the island of kolokythas can be found partially enclosing a bay. Alexis knows little or nothing about her familys past and has always resented her mother for refusing to discuss it.
The island by victoria hislop goodreads share book. The ladies affected are send to the island of spirolonga and the story details what it was like to live there, and then, after their cure how the people experience the return to their village. The spinalonga peninsula is part of the uninhabited kalydon island area within the region of elounda, crete, greece. Start with a visit to the colorful mainland village of agios nikolaos, and then travel to the portside at elounda. We met because i had written a novel set on spinalonga, a small island off crete, which was a leper colony from 1903 until 1957. Despite being a small barren island of 85 acres, it carries a long history and holds a special place in the greeks hearts, while it preserves its beauty notwithstanding of its dark past. The island of spinalonga also known as kalydon is located in east crete off the coast of mainland crete close to the villages of elounda and plaka in the lasithi region. I found it difficult to put it down as the story line was so good. We are a middle aged couple, heading to klio apartments in gouves, our first time in crete usually corfu for us for a week at the end of august. Set on the island of spinalonga, off the coast of crete, and on the village of plaka which lies within swimming distance across the bay from it, the island tells the story of alexis fielding, a 25yearold on the cusp of a lifechanging decision. Visiting spinalonga and the palace of knossos kato gouves. The island is definitely on my best read books list. I would like to visit spinalonga i loved victoria hyslops book the island and the palace of knossos, remembering learning about it at school.
We met because i had written a novel set on spinalonga, a small island off crete, which was a. It is a fictional story based on true events and conditions regarding the island of spinalonga in crete. The abandoned greek island shrouded in mystery for decades after it was abandoned, not much was known about the greek island of spinalonga or its days as a leper colony but all that is. This is a beautifully written story with characters so convincing that i had to keep reminding myself that the book is in fact fiction. One of the great things about being in a book club besides the interesting discussions and wonderful food provided by my generous bookclub friends is that i get to read books that i probably wouldnt otherwise come across. Victoria hislop, however, has found a very different island, off crete, for her first book. It was selected for the richard and judy summer read, and won victoria the newcomer of the year award at the galaxy british book awards 2007. Spinalonga the island skibbereen eagleskibbereen eagle. The author weaves the fictional story of cretan family personally affected by leprosy, into the islands leper colony history. The beach on the peninsula is called kolokita beach due to its view across to the neighbouring. This involving story is set on the island spinalonga off the coast of crete, between the two world wars, where there was a leper colony until leprosy was eradicated by medical intervention. The story of spinalonga, the island of the lepers in crete. Victoria hislops first novel the island is an international bestseller.
Spinalonga was finally ceded to the ottoman turks in 1715 under a treaty with kapudan pasha. Apr 10, 2006 the island, the acclaimed millioncopy no. Spinalonga kalydon elounda updated april 2020 top tips. The story of the book takes place on the island of. It tells the story of three generations of petrakis women, starting with alexis great grandmother, who was exiled to spinalonga, leaving behind a husband and two young daughters. Spinalonga a tiny mysterious island off the east coast of crete. Keen to preserve the integrity of the book and to give something back to the mediterranean island on which it is based, hislop spurning hollywood, the author settled for. Victoria hislop on a former leper colony off crete. To its north, the true island of spinalonga can be found. Spinalonga island, crete take boat trips to this magical island.
Dont let me put you off it isnt a sad read as such. Hislops meticulous research goes a long way to dispelling myths rooted in biblical times. It came to note in the year of 1579 when the occupying venetians created a fortress on the island. Tourists began descending on the island in the 1980s and spinalonga s popularity increased when author victoria hislop wrote the island in 2006. Feb 29, 2008 the island of spinalonga actual name kalidon lies just off the coast of the village of plaka, near elounda, agios nicholaos, in crete. Its possible to book an excursion over to the island, departing from the picturesque town of agios nikolaos. See all 18 spinalonga kalydon tours on tripadvisor. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience spinalonga kalydon. The book then goes back in time more than fifty years, to the small village of plaka and a leper colony just offshore on the tiny island of spinalonga. The island is a destination for boat trips from plaka, elounda and agios nikolaos in lasithi, crete.
Spinalonga kalydon elounda 2020 all you need to know. Spinalonga kalydon elounda all you need to know before. Spinalonga a historic island which was the last leper colony of the 20th century. Spinalonga is a popular sightseeing choice for the history and stunning views you get from atop the island. In addition to the abandoned leper colony and the fortress, spinalonga is known for its small pebble beaches and shallow waters. Inspired by a visit to spinalonga, the abandoned greek leprosy colony, victoria hislop wrote the island in 2005. Heraklion chandax held out for 21 years before falling in 1669. This book taught me a lot about the history of that time in greece.
Nicknamed as the island of the living dead, spinalonga, lies at the natural harbor of elounda in the prefecture of lassithi in crete. It has come to international fame due to its colourful history. You can visit spinalonga by boat from elounda, plaka and agios nikolaos. It is a fantastic book, and i would love to visit the island one day. She was named newcomer of the year at the british book awards and is now an ambassador for lepra. It has won several awards including newcomer of the year at the 2007 british book awards.
The island of spinalonga officially known as kalydon, is located in the gulf of elounda in northeastern crete, in lasithi. It is a beautiful fishermen village with lots of traditional little taverns offering visitors fresh fish caught by the. The award winning and best selling book the island by victoria hislop is set on the island and shares the fictional story of a familys ties to the former leper colony. The turks invaded crete in 1645 and conquered most of the island in two to three years. The book brought back fond memories of my trip to crete a few years ago and i regret now not having visited spinalonga. The island greek tv series with english sub titles crete. A trip to spinalonga is definitely worth doing, whether it be for historical purposes or for the fact it gives you the chance to capture the best panoramic view of cretes white mountains. The short story spinalonga by john ware, about a tourist group that visits the island, was included in the th pan book of horror. Today thousands of tourists visit spinalonga by boat from ayios nikolaos, elounda and plaka each summer as it is the most popular archaeological site in crete after knossos. The island is a story about love and pain, separation and fear.
In general, the island in front of elounda is called peninsula of spinalonga meaning long thorn. Spinalonga the island few places are imbued with the pervasive sense of pathos as the place known in greek as the island of the dammed which i visited a few days ago. Among the locals it is called kolikitha, also to clearly distinguish it from the fortress island of spinalonga. It is a very powerful and emotional story of a family in crete who experience the horrors of leprosy and what happens to them. In fact her knowledge of leprosy, the island of spinalonga and of crete itself is extensive and very well researched. This small and unsuspecting island may appear to be unsubstantial, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in history and attractions. Spinalonga today today, the uninhabited island is a popular tourist attraction in crete. We recommend booking spinalonga kalydon tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Keen to preserve the integrity of the book and to give something back to the mediterranean island on which it is based. Should you be thinking about visiting the island be sure to consult the following artcle to ensure you get the most from your day trip to spinalonga island.
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