At the northwestern tip of Crete lies the small island of Gramvousa, which has a rich and storied history. Today, it is uninhabited, but you can visit it by boat tours. In the 16th century, the Venetians built a strong fortress on the island to control the maritime routes of the Mediterranean. In 1692, it was captured by the Turks and became a pirate stronghold. During the Cretan liberation struggle, it served as the headquarters of the island¢s revolutionary committee.