As Victoria Hislop the author of the bestselling novel
"The Island," said about on Spinalonga
* "I hope that my book will help to keep the memory
of Spinalonga alive, and that it will inspire people to
visit this incredible place."
I have read this wonderful book after our visit to
Spinalonga, we didn’t know much information before
going there, I knew it had a great significance and
that it had a troubled past, that was all I knew.
Yet after reading the story of “The Island” ..
The story of Spinalonga I came to know that it is
a story of human resilience where a place of great
sadness, that also achieved wonderful things and
held great beauty.
It's a place where people were forgotten, truly
removed from the embrace of their loved ons and
casted away in the island to face an unknown future
& to battle the frightening leper disease.
And they eventually these outcasts, they also found
a community and a sense of belonging among each
other.
Team work built this islet, it had everything that
would made anyone feel at home.
……………………………………………………
a truly interesting & beautiful book and very easy to
read. Due to the coherent storyline and relatable
stories even for our modern time.
it captures the life of the people back then when the
lepercey happened and many people who had to be
removed from their family and friends and to be
placed on Spinalonga and their agonizing journey
going to this island, not knowing what they’re gonna
face or what the future holds
The moment they went walking through that
passage between the shore and the town of
Spinalonga.
I totally recommend this book, to get to know this
island before going there
because when you read about it
these characters who are living these incidents will
bring life to the stones and remains that the tourists
see in Spinalonga
……………………………………………………
The majestic fortress surrounding the island was built
by the Venetians in the 16th century to defend Crete
from Ottoman attacks. the Venetians ruled Spinalonga
from 1579 to 1715.
Then it fell in the hands of the Ottomans who have built
some houses and shops in the island, then the island
became uninhabited after the liberation of Crete from
the ottomans until it was used again as a leper colony,
infected Greek individuals were brought from around
Greece to get cast away here.
There was a functioning hospital run by Drs and
researches who were trying to find a cure to the
disease.
Mean while, the Leper population of the island, have
brought life to this island, they opened some stores,
cafes and restaurants, they had a local news paper,
they had a Mayer and a small governing group.
And in the occasions of celebrations they celebrated
with great food and music.
They defeated their misery with high spirits and hopes.
They created a system and an isolated town that
housed many men, women and children in the best
conditions possible.
One can only imagine how the lepers stood at the
shores of the island seeing in not a far distance their
own town of Plaka, where life was taking place as
usual, their family and friends and they are away and
can’t be with them.
The many diseased people who out of despair,
ended their lives, throwing themselves form the
heights of the fortress.
Few years later, they have found the cure, and the
remains live people who got well went back home to
face life again as healthy people. And now, this islet
stands a witness to everything it had seen.
The bitter sweet story of Spinalonga.
We came to Elounda many years ago and we had a
picture with Spinalonga from the shore.
And I’m standing here remembering all this.
I’m happy we finally made it to this island.
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Catch ups in my next video,
Stay well,
Bye bye 🤍