SPINALONGA – The Last European Leper Colony
By: thekorzens
Tags: CRETE, GREECE, leper colony, Spinalonga
Category: BEYOND, CRETE, GREECE
| Aperture: | f/4.5 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length: | 24mm |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Shutter: | 1/0 sec |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 7D |
The island of Spinalonga is located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete.
The island was used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. The last inhabitant, a priest, left the island in 1962.
There were two entrances to Spinalonga, one being the lepers’ entrance, a tunnel known as “Dante’s Gate”. This was so named because the patients did not know what was going to happen to them once they arrived. However, once on the island they received food, water, medical attention and social security payments. Previously, such amenities had been unavailable to Crete’s leprosy patients, as they mostly lived in the area’s caves, away from civilization.
Israel & Beyond 
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