An aerial view of the island of Spinalonga in Crete, Greece. Credit: iStock. A tourist cliche unfolds as we chug our way out to the tiny island of Spinalonga on a white-painted wooden fishing boat.

The island of Spinalonga wasn’t always bustling with tourists. IT MIGHT be teeming with tourists now, but less than 50 years ago nobody wanted to set foot on this picturesque island.

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The jaw-dropping Greek island with a dark past that's been abandoned for over 60 years The island once had around 200 homes and 25 shops, many of which still stand today and can be visited.