Lazaretta is a small uninhabited island which is situated in the Bay of Souda, not far from the city of Chania. From this city there are excursions to Lazaretta. For some time the island has served as a leper island, and people who were suspected of leprosy first had to go to this island before they were allowed to enter Chania. The name Lazaretta derives from the Saint Lazarus, who was the patron saint of lepers. On the island are the remains of a large building (25 x 7 meters) where the lepers were housed. The building was largely destroyed by the Turks in 1645 because they wanted to house a large cannon here that they could use to besiege the city of Chania.
On the island stands a small church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos. It was put there by an Australian who fell asleep on the island and then woke up dehydrated and with a sunstroke. Sick as he was he managed to return to the mainland of the island of Crete, where he was found and rescued. On Lazaretta there are several small bays with beaches and it is a good area for snorkeling.