Touring in Crete: Spinalonga island and Elounda village

Elounda

Olous or Olus is an ancient, sunken city situated at today’s town of Elounda in Crete.

Archaeologists discovered ancient texts within the ruins linking the town to the ancient cities of Knossos and the island of Rhodes. The sunken city can be visited by tourists swimming in Elounda Bay. Today, the only visible remnants of the city are some scattered wall bases.

Olous, and accordingly the wider region, were depopulated at the middle of the 7th century because of the raids of the Arab pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Olous remained deserted until the mid-15th century when the Venetians began to construct salt-pans in the shallow and salty waters of the gulf. Subsequently, the region acquired commercial value and became inhabited. This fact, in combination with the emergent Turkish threat, particularly after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, and the continuous pirate raids, forced the Venetians to fortify the island of Spinalonga.

The sunken city of Olous near Elounda OLOUS (Ancient city) ELOUNDA

The sunken city of Olous near Elounda (photo taken from www.gtp.gr).

Geographical Data

Type of location:	Archaeological site
Other Names:	OLUS (Bibliography)
Postal Code:	72053
Tel	+30 28410
Longitude:	25^o 42' 60" E
Latitude:	35^o 15' 00" N

Geographical Boundaries

OLOUS (Ancient city) East of ELOUNDA (Small town)

ELOUNDA (Small town) belongs to AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Municipality (Kapodistrias plan))

AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Municipality (Kapodistrias plan)) belongs toMIRAMBELOU (Province)

MIRAMBELOU (Province) belongs to LASSITHI (Prefecture)

LASSITHI (Prefecture) belongs to CRETE (Island)

CRETE (Island) belongs to GREECE (Country

http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=60633

2 comments:

Unknown02 May, 2012 01:45
I Love this part of the island and posted about it last month here: http://postcardpictures.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/lost-city-of-atlantis.html
It's such a picturesque place and the water is sublime! Thank you for reminding me again of this piece of magic in Crete. Francesca
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Dino De Ruco02 May, 2012 12:48
It's a pleasure! I thank you too! I really enjoyed your article and the pictures were outstanding. Keep well. :-)

http://gocrete.blogspot.com/2012/05/postcard-pictures-lost-city-of-atlantis.html
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About Crete

Crete is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean basin, it's position is central and unique in history and geographically because it lies within equal distance from Africa, Asia and Europe. It's climate is strange, but robust owing to it's special geographical location and in Summer it's true beauty and vigour is displayed for all to enjoy! As far as size is concerned it is 260 km from Sidero in the east to Cape Grambousa in the west and from north to south, it's widest point is from the headlands of Stavros and Lithinon, 56 km. At the isthmus of Ierapetra it's a mere 12km!

It's a mysterious island with a complex character, an extremely lengthy History which looks towards Europe, but never lets go of Africa. The north side is friendly and hospitable, with bays and harbours, whilst the south side is enigmatic and rugged with only one good harbour, which is in Ierapetra. That is why we see that the North side of Crete is developed, progressive and modern. The south side is not inferior, though, it depends how you see it: a treasure trove of adventures and experiences, a true labyrinth.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Ancient Olous, the sunken city

Touring in Crete: Spinalonga island and Elounda village

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