Lazaretta is a small, uninhabited island with a sandy beach along the west coast, just outside of Chania harbor. 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 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.