Gramvousa island is a must see in Crete. Its location near the Balos Lagoon made it popular amongst tourists, as day trips from Kissamos port include some free time here as well. For me, it was love at first sight. Its steep landscape, the surreal turquoise waters and the fort made me fall in love with it and I still want to live there, although not allowed.

The island has a long history, dating back to ancient times when it was called Korykos. The name Gramvousa comes from the Venetian word Garbuse, as they built a fort here in the 16th century. It was part of the many forts that the Venetians built on the island and its purpose was for defense, because of its strategic position, protecting all the northwestern Crete.

The other forts used for defense are: Spinalonga, Koules (in Heraklion) and Fortezza (in Rethymno). Gramvousa fort was surrendered to the Turks in the 19th century, as they bribed the Venetian commandant. The fort also played a decisive role in the Cretan Revolution, as it became the base for the Revolutionary Committee of Crete. For 3 years, it sheltered approx. 3000 rebels, who were forced to become pirates, as they lacked food in this place, hence the nickname of “Pirate fort” or “Pirate island”. Today you can still see the remains of the fort, its imposing shape overlooking the harbour and Balos Lagoon.

Another attraction of the island is the shipwreck, located near the port. She was called Motorship Dimitrios P and set sailed on December 30 1967 from the port of Chalkida (near Athens) and was destined for North Africa. It was forced to drop anchor in Kythira and then again on the south side of Gramvousa, on 6th of January 1968, due to bad weather. On the 8th of January the left anchor chain broke and the ship ran aground on the left side, damaging the engine room. The ship was evacuated and the crew stayed on the island until the 10th of January, when they were rescued by the destroyer Ierax, from Souda. The ship is still there today, now part of the landscape and the iconic view.

Good to know before you go:

· Can only be accessed by boat. Either you take it from Kissamos, combined with Balos, or a private boat

· It is a protected area, under Natura 2000 program

· There are no facilities on the island, staying overnight is prohibited

· To see the fort, you have to climb around 20 mins or so. Wear comfortable shoes, no flipflops, as the stairs are very slippery. Also, hat and sunscreen are mandatory, there is no shade on the way

· The beach is sandy, but the water has rocks, special shoes are recommended

· Bring your own snacks and water, there is no shop on the island

· Swimming very close to the shipwreck is not recommended, unless you want a tetanus emergency vaccine. Remember it is there for almost 6 decades and it’s covered in rust

· There is little to no phone coverage in the area – upload your photos once you reach Kissamos

That being said, I need to go back! ASAP!