Important photographs of Spinalonga, from 1897, have been shared (“Vintage – Click in color”) and we see what the Island was like before it was transformed into a place of exile and isolation for lepers. The two minarets and the Venetian water tanks stand out, for which, in one photo, it is written in French: ” Spinalonga , citernes nettoyees par nos marins ” (“Spinalonga, tanks cleaned by our sailors”). In July 1897, Spinalonga was visited by the French governor of the prefecture of Lasithi , Emile Honore Destelle , and in his “Diary” he wrote (edited by Maria Sorou):
“We see a small waterfront, on which some Turks are gathered who, to my belief, seem quite well-off. Around this small place there are a few houses inhabited by the customs officers and this is all we can see of this walled city.
“It’s as if we’ve been transported to the heart of the East, to a small narrow street, decorated with small shops on the right and left, where people dressed in Turkish costumes walk around, respectfully stepping aside as we pass. The traffic is quite heavy and the street presents something special, with the ancient castle and its oriental shops as a backdrop, where curious types are crowded. We see very nice children and especially the little girls, who are beautiful, almost all blonde with beautiful blue eyes. They are not at all reserved and we see that they are getting to know our sailors. They have also taken advantage of the last element and what I notice most is the impeccable cleanliness that reigns everywhere. In a Turkish area, it is a remarkable achievement, which is due to Captain Dupourque.”
Source: Leonidas Klontzas for Anatolh.com