Description of the attraction
The modern town of Elounda is located in the eastern part of Crete, 12 km north of Agios Nikolos, in the Mirabello Bay. In ancient times, on the site of today's Elounda, there was a rich ancient Greek, and later also the Roman port city of Olus. After a powerful earthquake in the 2nd century AD. Olus sank almost entirely under the water, thus forming a small bay and the Kolokita ("Great Spinalonga") peninsula, connected to Crete by a narrow isthmus.
Since the middle of the 7th century, this area has become almost deserted due to constant pirate raids. In the middle of the 15th century, life in this region began to revive thanks to the Venetians who discovered salt mining here. The picturesque fishing village developed rapidly. Its inhabitants were mainly engaged in agriculture, fishing, extraction of salt and emery.
In the early 1900s and until 1957, Elounda was the starting point for leprosy patients on their way to their final resting place - the island of Spinalonga, known as the "island of the lepers", where the leper colony was located. Elounda is mentioned in Victoria Hislop's The Island, which tells a fictional story of a family associated with a leper colony. At one time, this book became a bestseller in England.
Over time, Elounda has developed into a prestigious resort, famous for its beautiful landscapes and fashionable hotels (most of which are five-star hotels). Elounda was a favorite vacation spot of the former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. He opened this place for world-class VIPs (politicians, Arab sheikhs, film and stage performers, etc.).
Cozy picturesque beaches, a good selection of hotels and apartments, various shops and souvenir shops, numerous restaurants and cafes, as well as a leisurely pace of life provide a calm and comfortable stay in Elounda.
