Spinaloga the Island

The road to Elouda from Agios Nikolaos follows the shore, climbing to the top of a small mountain . The view from the top is incomparable. On a clear day the visitor can see all of Mirabello bay, and all the way to the eastern tip of Crete.
The village is touristically developed with many shops, restaurants on the shore, bars and several excellent hotels famous for their comforts and the variety of amenities offered. The lagoon of Elouda is shaped between the coast and a small peninsula of 7-8 km length, that serves as a breakwater. Today the peninsula is separated from the mainland by a channel dug by the French at the end of the 19th century. A narrow bridge joins the peninsula with the mainland.
In the area there used to be the ancient city of “Olous”. Some ruins of the city are preserved in the edge of the peninsula but the rest of the city is below sea level,, with ruins of buildings visible in the sea bed. Near by are the salt-mines where tonns of salt are produced.
In the summer boats leave the harbor every hour, transporting visitors to the small islet of Spinaloga.