Explore magnificent East Crete (Elounda Spinalonga-Agios Nikolaos – Vassilakis estate)

Our drive today covers a large part of the northeastern axis of the island. Our firsts stop will be the village of Elounda.

From the small port of the village, we will board a small traditional wooden boat which will take us to the Island of Spinalonga.  In recent years, local authorities have been trying to enter Spinalonga to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The ancient name of Spinalonga was Kalydon, but after its seizure by the Venetians, the name changed.  The castle-fortress on the island which was built to protect the harbor of the ancient state Olus from Arab invasions in the Mediterranean Sea. Until the middle of the 15th century when the Venetians took advantage of this area and started gathering salt. On the ruins of the ancient castle, the Venetians built a strong fortress (1579-1586). During the Venetian occupation, the fort was used for military purposes. During the Cretan War, refugees and rebels (Hainides) resorted to Spinalonga. By having the island as a base, they harassed the Turks. Turks occupied the island of Spinalonga in 1715 and gradually many Ottoman Turks resided there. In 1903, the Cretan State decided to create a Leprosarium in Spinalonga in order to provide a concerted aid to those suffering from Hansen’s disease. In 1957, the Leprosarium closed since the lepers were healed because of the discovery of antibiotics and thus the island was finally deserted. The Island is one of the better-known features in Crete and location of the top-selling novel ‘The Island’ (author Victoria Hislop). 

Our second stop is the lovely serene little town of Agios Nikolaos. It is the cosmopolitan capital of the prefecture of Lasithi. The town is built on the west side of the Gulf of Mirabello, but the current name comes from the Byzantine church of Saint Nikolaos located west of the city. The city transformed into a picturesque resort with the main pillars of development being its tranquility and the beautiful beaches. Trademark of Agios Nikolaos is the picturesque Lake Voulismeni, a small lagoon in the center of the town, used as a small harbor where fishing boats stop. Many legends are associated with it, mainly because of its very deep waters (e.g. that it has no bottom). A walk around the lake is a very nice experience indeed. Moreover, you'll be impressed by the stairs that are almost everywhere, as the city is built in an area with very steep slopes and roads could not be constructed.  

Our final stop will at Vassilakis Estate in Neapoli for a free olive oil tasting.

The story of the Vassilakis family olive business is interwoven with the history of the Mirambello Valley. It begins more than 150 years ago when the first Manolis Vassilakis – “Vassilomanolis”- realized his vision to build a “fabrica” (olive mill) to press the olives harvested from the millennium-old trees of his olive grove. He searched the area for just the right stone, a huge millstone, and with the help of several men rolled it for days over the uneven ground up the hill to Agia Sophia village. The stone olive mill was one of the first in the valley, producing life-giving olive oil for the family and their little community for many years. Today, “Vassilakis Estate” is one of Crete’s top producers and exporters of superior extra virgin olive oil. The next generation of the family, the fifth, is now actively involved in running the award-winning olive business. When you have known and cultivated olives for a century and half, you are only satisfied with the best, every time.

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