Sorry for the lame attempt at the 'I went on holiday and saw this...' post, but in all honesty although I did go to Crete during the summer it wasn't on this trip that I visited Spinalonga.
Spinalonga is the old leper colony of Crete, a small island on the Eastern coast of the country. I went to visit it when I was about 10, and only recently remembered whilst having a chat with our holiday rep about places to visit in Crete.
Since 1962 the island has no longer been in action, however you can get a boat over for a tour of the island to see the old derelict buildings, fortress and graveyards. It's an incredibly moving experience, and really makes you think about the way that medicine and sociable acceptance has progressed over the past few centuries. The island was a vast improvement to the leper colony as before they had been banished to the area's caves to keep them away from civilization. On this island however, they received food and medical care.
A far cry from the crazy Malia nightlife on the other side of the island!
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