Rhodes Island is the capital of the Dodecanese, and the largest of the island group, it is one of the most visited of the Greek islands with its numerous sandy beaches, un-spoilt interior, and a climate that boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year. This island has something for almost everyone.

The jewel in the crown of Rhodes, is the wonderful, and well preserved, medieval city built by the Knights of St John, who used the island as their main base from 1309 until 1522. The main gate to the city has twin, turreted towers. The coat of arms above the gate belongs to Grand Master del Villeneuve who ruled Rhodes Island from 1390 to 1346. The city is surrounded by a dry moat and over two miles (3 km) of walls, in which are set eleven gates. The city is divided into two parts, the Collachium, which dates from 1309 which was the Knights quarter, and the Bourg, which was home to the rest of the population. As one of the finest medieval walled cities in existence, it is now a World Heritage Site.

Palace of the Grand Master

The Palace of the Grand Master is one of the most imposing buildings in medieval Rhodes. Originally built in the fourteenth century, it was damaged by an earthquake in 1851. Further damage was caused by an explosion when gunpowder was ignited in 1856. The Italians started restoring the palace in 1939 for use as a summer palace for Mussolini, but in doing so, removed most of its original character.

The old town of Rhodes island is simply a pleasure to walk around. The main streets are mostly the preserve of the tourist industry, but that is only what you would expect from the main attraction on the island. But turn off the main thoroughfares, and you enter into an enchanted kingdom of narrow cobbled streets joined by arches.

The fifteenth century fortress of Agios Nikolaos, now used as a lighthouse, stands on a promontory past three medieval windmills. If you look carefully at the walls you will be able to see that in some places carved blocks robbed from an even older building have been used in its construction.

Deer statues in Mandraki harbor

A bronze doe stands on one side of the harbour entrance, with a bronze stag on the other, where, it is said, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Colossus of Rhodes, straddled the harbour entrance, although others believe it probably stood at what is now the site of the Palace of the Grand Masters.

Located 55 kilometers south of Rhodes town is the popular holiday resort of Lindos. Lindos is an important archaeological site. Towering above the village is the acropolis, on which stands the remains of a citadel which attracts many thousands of visitors every year. Acropolis of Lindos, a natural citadel which was fortified successively by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of St John and the Ottomans. This makes the site difficult to excavate and interpret archaeologically. The acropolis offers spectacular views of the surrounding harbours and coastline.

Lindos was founded by the Dorians led by the king Tlepolemus of Rhodes, who arrived in about the 10th century BC. It was one of six Dorian cities in the area known as the Dorian Hexapolis. The eastern location of Rhodes made it a natural meeting place between the Greeks and the Phoenicians, and by the 8th century Lindos was a major trading centre. Its importance declined after the foundation of the city of Rhodes in the late 5th century.

Lindos

In classical times the acropolis of Lindos was dominated by the massive temple of Athena Lindia, which attained its final form in around 300 BC. In Hellenistic and Roman times the temple precinct grew as more buildings were added. In early medieval times these buildings fell into disuse, and in the 14th century they were partly overlaid by a massive fortress built on the acropolis by the Knights of St John to defend the island against the Ottomans.

On the acropolis of Lindos today parts of the following buildings may still be seen:

• The Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, dating from about 300 BC, built on the site of an earlier temple. Inside the temple is the table of offerings and the base of the cult statue of Athena.

• The Propylaea of the Sanctuary, also dating from the 4th century BC. A monumental staircase leads to a D-shaped stoa and a wall with five door openings.

• The Hellenistic stoa with lateral projecting wings, dating from about 200 BC. The stoa is 87 metres long and consisted of 42 columns.

• The well-known relief of a Rhodian trireme (warship) cut into the rock at the foot of the steps leading to the acropolis. On the bow stood a statue of General Hagesander, the work of the sculptor Pythokritos. The relief dates from about 180 BC.

• The Hellenistic staircase (2nd century BC) leading to the main archaeological area of the acropolis.

Rhodes Lindos Acropolis

• Remains of a Roman temple, possibly dedicated to the Emperor Diocletian and dating from about 300 AD.

• The Acropolis is surrounded by a Hellenistic wall contemporary with the Propylaea and the stairway leading to the entrance to the site. A Roman inscription says that the wall and square towers were repaired at the expense of P Aelius Hagetor, the priest of Athena in the 2nd century AD.

• The Castle of the Knights of St John, built some time before 1317 on the foundations of older Byzantine fortifications. The walls and towers follow the natural conformation of the cliff. A pentagonal tower on the south side commanded the harbour, the settlement and the road from the south of the island. There was a large round tower on the east facing the sea and two more, one round and the other on a corner, on the northeast side of the enceinte. Today one of the towers at the southwest corner and one to the west survive.

• The Greek Orthodox Church of St John, dating from the 13th or 14th century and built on the ruins of a previous church, which may have been built as early as the 6th century.

Additional Information
Location: 429,00 km from Athens

It is famous about
Colossus of Rhodes
The medieval Old Town
Palace of the Grand Master
Acropolis of Lindos