Kolokytha beach

Kolokytha is a small island just opposite the Peninsula of Spinalonga, 12km north of Agios Nikolaos and close to Elounda.

Opposite the island there is the fantastic beach of Saint Luke, mostly known as Kolokytha. To access the beach you should first follow a scenic route: From the town of Elounda, follow the road leading to the East, along the shore. You will pass the old salt pans on your right hand, which now host many birds. The road at this point runs along a narrow strip of land and heads to the Peninsula of Spinalonga (some call the Spinalonga Peninsula falsely as Kolokytha). On the route you will meet the small canal built by the French army in 1897 to connect the lagoon of Elounda to Mirabelo Bay. There are a few windmills around, a picturesque bridge and boats in the canal, creating a unique landscape. Then the road turns to a dirt track and after 200-300m you have to turn right. Drive in this track and cross the peninsula of Spinalonga vertically, having stunning views of its rocky shores and the abandoned farms.

After 3-4 minutes, the road leads to the church of Saint Luke, where you should park. From there you can see the small island of Kolokytha, where thousands of gulls nest. Also, you can discern at the north, the Byzantine chapel of Saint Fokas, which was built in honor of the Byzantine emperor Nicephorus Phocas for liberating Crete from the Arabs in 961 AD.

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