Imeri Gramvousa Island is located 20 km from Kissamos and 2 miles from the famous Balos Lagoon. The island is famous for its historic Venetian fortress, located at an altitude of 137 meters above sea level.
The fort was once used by pirates. According to one legend, a large treasure trove is hidden on the island. Furthermore, an old ship, abandoned near the shore many years ago, has become a recognizable part of the landscape.
The wreck of that ship occurred between the large bays on the southern side of the island. Visitors arriving here on excursion ferries are welcomed daily by the Western Bay. Ferries departing from the port of Kissamos make a brief stop here before continuing to Balos Lagoon.
Tourists enjoy strolling around the island, visiting the castle, and taking photos of the wrecked ship. You can also swim in the crystal-clear sea near the Church of Agios Apostolos. Here is a beach with white sand and an otherworldly turquoise sea. Nearby, there are a few rocks and tamarisk trees offering shade. The seabed is ideal for scuba diving enthusiasts.
The Venetian fortress on the island was built between 1579 and 1584 as a defensive structure against the Ottoman Empire, but it was destroyed in 1588 by a lightning strike on a gunpowder magazine. The fortress wasn’t rebuilt until 1630. The structure was roughly triangular in shape, approximately 1,000 meters on each side.
When the Ottoman Empire seized control of Crete in 1669, Gramvousa, along with the fortresses of Souda and Spinalonga, was left under Venetian control to protect Venetian trade routes.
In 1825, Cretans disguised as Turks captured the fortress, which became their strategic base. To survive on the island, the locals were forced to turn to pirates. In 1828, the fortress was captured by Greece, and the pirate ships were destroyed.
Between the coast of Crete and the island lies the picturesque Balos Lagoon, where the waters of three seas—the Aegean, Ionian, and Libyan—converge. The crystal-clear water sparkles in the sun, and the sand ranges in color from white to pale pink. Today, the islands of Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon are very popular with tourists.
