Shifting Lenses

Our family trip to Greece in 2023 was unforgettable, especially the last five days we spent in Crete, near Plaka. This coastline is absolutely gorgeous, though quite developed with resorts. But what really captured my attention, just a short distance offshore, was the island of Spinalonga, with its incredibly unsettling past.

For centuries, the Venetians held Spinalonga as a fortress. Later, it became a refuge for Muslim families escaping persecution. Its most heartbreaking chapter began in the early 20th century when it was transformed into a leper colony. Travel to the island was forbidden, except for staff, and fishing was prohibited within 200 meters of its shores. What makes Spinalonga so devastating is that it was primarily a place of isolation for the infected, not a place for treatment. Imagine the mental torment for those residents, being able to see the towns along the coast, where their families lived and their former lives had been.

Over the past year, my brother and I have been volunteering at a leprosy home in Singapore. Thinking back on what I learned about Spinalonga a few years ago, it feels even more profoundly sad now. The fact that Spinalonga operated as a leper colony until 1957 feels incredibly recent, especially when Greece is so overwhelmingly rich with ancient history.

I truly appreciated that this region of Greece focused on the more recent history of this island. Touring Spinalonga was highly recommended by our hotel and even restaurant staff in nearby towns. Of all the historical sites we visited in Greece, and there were many, Spinalonga’s story was perhaps the most unique. It really drove home the importance of giving as much attention to recent history as we do to ancient history when we travel. It’s a powerful reminder that history, in all its forms, deserves our focus and reflection.