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From Leper Colony to Refugee Center: Crete's Pattern of Isolation

Tuesday, 23 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

A Greek opinion piece published by CNA draws a historical parallel between Spinalonga, the island off eastern Crete that served as a leper colony until 1957, and current refugee reception facilities on the island. The author, Evagelia Fanouraki, poses the question of which groups society chooses to isolate in each era and why. Spinalonga, now one of Crete's most visited archaeological sites, held thousands of patients in forced quarantine for decades. Today the island is accessible by short boat trips from Elounda and Plaka and attracts large numbers of visitors each summer. The article does not report new events or policy changes affecting tourists. Visitors planning to tour Spinalonga should book ferry tickets in advance during peak season, as departures fill quickly from the nearby resorts of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

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