Elouda
Lassithi, Crete, Greece
The road to Elouda from
Agios Nikolaos follows the shore, climbing to the top of
a small mountain .
The view from the top is incomparable. On a clear day the visitor can see all of
Mirabello bay, and all the way to the eastern tip of Crete.
The village is touristically developed with many shops, restaurants on the shore,
bars and several excellent hotels famous for their comforts and the variety of amenities
offered.
The lagoon of Elouda is shaped between the coast and a small peninsula of 7-8 km length, that serves as a breakwater. Today the peninsula is separated from the mainland by a channel dug by the French at the end of the 19th century.
A narrow bridge joins the peninsula with the mainland.
In the area there used to be the ancient city of "Olous".
Some ruins of the city are preserved in the edge of the peninsula but the rest of the city is below sea level,, with ruins of buildings visible in the sea bed.
Near by are the salt-mines where tonns of salt are produced.
In the summer boats leave the harbor every hour, transporting visitors to the small islet of Spinaloga.
 Spinaloga is a small rocky islet, in the entrance of the lagoon. The name Spinaloga is Venetian (Spina=thorn, longa=long).
Spinaloga, since antiquity, has protected the harbor of ancient Olous.
It used to be one of the most powerful fortresses of the Venetian Crete, and it was never conquered. Its high walls were built in 1579 and are preserved today intact. In 1630 it had 35 cannons.
For half a century after the Turkish conquest of Crete, Spinaloga remained in the hands of the Venetians and was a refuge for many Christians who fled there to escape from the Turks. In 1715 the islet was handed over to the Turks with the conclusion of a treaty. From 1912 to 1958 the islet served as a sanatorium for the lepers of Crete.
Today the entrance is free for the visitors who are attracted by its history and architecture.
Merambello Area
Tourist Facilities
Agios Nikolaos
Kritsa
Aerial View
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