Rhodes

The medieval walls and the old mills welcome the traveler who visits Rhodes. The only thing missing is the bronze statue of the titan god of the sun Helios, the famous Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. Rhodes is the largest medieval city in Europe. It was the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem who left a deeper footprint and built the walled city that still survives.

The ancient city of Rhodes is a mosaic of diverse cultures and civilizations. As soon as you enter through the Gate of Liberty (Eleftherias), and getting lost in its labyrinthine streets is like going back in time and discovering twenty-four centuries of history. The historical fortifications, the small alleys, the fountains, the minarets and the quiet squares transport you to medieval times.

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is undoubtedly the most recognizable structure in the historic center of Rhodes. The palace, originally a Byzantine fortification erected at the end of the 7th century, became the home and administrative headquarters of the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem in the 14th century, and today it functions as a museum.

Within the walls

The Street of the Knights (Old City) is lined with old inns where the warriors of the Order of Knights stayed. The Knights Hospital, located at the end of the street near the museum square, contains the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Across the square is the church of Panagia tou Kastrou (Our Lady of the Castle), which was the Orthodox cathedral of Rhodes in Byzantine times before becoming the Catholic cathedral when the knights took over the city. Nowadays it houses the Byzantine Museum of Rhodes.

In the Turkish quarter, you can visit the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Mosque of Mustafa Pasha and the Turkish baths «Yeni Hammam» of the 16th century.

Outside the Medieval City

With its Venetian, neoclassical and contemporary architecture, the new city offers a different face to Rhodes. The Post Office, designed by Florestano Di Fausto, the Dodecanese Prefecture building, which served as the governor's mansion, the Evangelismos church, the Town Hall, and the National Theater are the most notable buildings from the Italian era.

Elli Beach is located at the northern end of Rhodes Town, where most of the luxury hotels are located. There is also the historic Grande Albergo Delle Rose Hotel, where the Casino is located.

It is also worth visiting the Aquarium, one of the most important marine research centers in Greece. On the other side of the city, you can visit Rodini Park, a real paradise with maples and pines. Rodini is the site of the famous Rhetoric School where distinguished Greeks and Romans studied, among them Julius Caesar, Cicero, Pompey, Brutus, and Mark Antony. On the hill of San Stefanos (known as Monte Smith) is the Acropolis, one of the most important centers of worship, education and recreation in Rhodes. At the top of the hill are the remains of the Temple of Apollo, a Hellenistic stadium and a gymnasium.

On the east coast, we find Kalithea and Faliraki beach, a sophisticated tourist destination. A few minutes' drive from Faliraki is Koskinou, a typical village with brightly colored buildings and cobbled courtyards decorated with ceramic plates.

Ialissos is another tourist center and a great destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The Monastery of Virgin Mary and the remains of an ancient Acropolis with the temples of Zeus and Athena from the 3rd century BC are located on the Filerimos hill, a few kilometers from Ialissos. Visitors to Filerimos can take a journey through the "Via Crucis", which leads to a massive cross. The view from there is spectacular. In Afandou, you can enjoy the beach and for golf lovers, there is a golf course that is open all year.

The Valley of the Butterflies is an impressive landscape that attracts a large number of visitors during the summer. The butterflies spend the entire summer in the valley, mating, and then leave in September, laying their eggs in various locations on the island. These eggs hatch in April, resulting in a small larva that pupates in May and matures into an adult in early June. When it starts to get warmer, they leave their birthplace and start their night journey to the valley, where they will stay until September. They are attracted by the smell of tree resin as well as the coolness of the environment, which does not change even on the hottest days of summer.

Nature reveals itself in all its grandeur in the south of Rhodes, from Kiotari and Genadi to Lahania, Plimiri and Prassonisi, the southernmost point of the island and a popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The villages in the area were founded in medieval times, or even earlier, and have retained their unique color, as well as the native dialect of their people, customs, and even the traditional ornamentation of their homes. Discover the splendor of the countryside and enchanting nature that rejuvenates your body and spirit by following historical routes.

Following impressive routes on foot is the ideal way to discover the natural beauty of the island: try the two-hour route from Filerimos to the coast through a magical pine forest, tour the Valley of the Butterflies (3 hours), go from the Salakos village to the top of Profitis Elias following an impressive four-hour route, walk from Kritinia castle to the village through a lush green valley (4 hours). Experienced hikers can take the opportunity to reach the top of Ataviros, a spectacular six-hour climb!

A day in Lindos

Another mythical place on the island of Rhodes is Lindos, whose temple of Athena Lindia, built in the 4th century BC. C., was one of the most revered in Ancient Greece. Tradition says that the apostle Paul was shipwrecked here in 51 A.D.

The eponymous village of Lindos, with its whitewashed buildings, palaces, Byzantine churches and narrow cobbled streets, lies at the foot of the Lindos Acropolis. Following the path towards the ancient walled acropolis, you can see the remains of buildings from the Byzantine and Knightly eras, such as the 4th century BC Temple of Athena Lindia, the Propylaea, the Hellenistic great arcade, the Byzantine chapel of Agios Ioannis and the Castle of the Knights of San Juan.

Kastellorizo

Also called Megisti, Kastellorizo is the easternmost island of Greece, with a troubled past. Only 300 people now reside on the island, but the town and its splendid neoclassical houses indicate the island's historic splendor.

Chalki

With its former center for diving and sponge fishing, Chalki was noted for its School of Theology, which is sadly now closed. Emporio, the only inhabited settlement on the island, has grand mansions and a beautiful waterfront with fresh seafood. It is also worth seeing Chorio and the Castle of the Knights.

Symi

Symi is an hour by boat from Mandraki port in Rhodes. An island populated by sponge divers and sailors. Before World War II, Symi had a population of 30,000 and was the richest island in the Dodecanese, despite its small size. Today, Symi attracts a large number of visitors due to its well-preserved neoclassical structures and the famous Archangel Michael Monastery at Panormitis.

Tilos

Located northwest of Rhodes, it has majestic mountains, steep rocky coastlines, beaches with crystal blue seas, and historic fortresses. The island's port is in Livadia, and from there you can explore the abandoned settlement of Micro Chorio ("Little Town"), which has been closed since 1950. The Museum of Paleontology in Megalo Chorio ("Big Town") houses remains petrified dwarf elephants.