Rhodes

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands, the southernmost group of Greek islands, scattered along the western coast of Turkey. Owing to their great distance from Athens, the Dodecanese islands have been subject to various invasions and occupations over many centuries, until they were finally incorporated into the Greek state in 1948. Rhodes is the most populated of the Dodecanese islands, with 117 000 inhabitants, and it attracts thousands of visitors every year.

History of a walled city

The Old Town of Rhodes is one of the finest examples of a walled city in existence, and as such has been declared a World Heritage Site. The town, at the northern tip of the island, dates back to 408 BC. In 332 BC it became part of the empire of Alexander the Great, from 1090 it was occupied by the Muslim Turks, and during the First Crusade it was recaptured by the Greeks.

The first Grand Master of the crusaders, Magnus Magister, bought Rhodes from the Genoese pirate Admiral Vignoli in 1306, conquered the islands’ inhabitants, and the Knights of Rhodes, as they became known, remained on the island until their expulsion in 1522. The Knights’ medieval citadel, surrounded by moats, 4 km of walls and 11 imposing arched gates, is dominated by the Palace of the Grand Masters, built in the 14^th century.

It forms the centre of the Old Town of Rhodes, a fortress within a walled city, while the new town lies beyond the original walls of the citadel. The palace contains priceless mosaics and sculptures. Although it previously survived earthquakes and sieges, in 1856 it was blown up in an unintentional explosion; it was restored by the Italians in the 1930s.

The medieval Street of the Knights is situated between the Palace of the Grand Masters and the harbour and is lined by the “Inns of the Tongues”, or nationalities, of the Order of St John. Each “Tongue” protected an area of city wall known as a “Curtain”. The inns were also restored by the Italians in the 1930s.

Other places of interest

In ancient times, Rhodes was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue which guarded the harbour. Completed in 280 BC, it was destroyed in an earthquake in 224 BC.

The pink Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent was built in 1522 to commemorate the Sultan’s victory over the Knights. It remains one of the major landmarks of the town, but the structure is crumbling and has been closed to the public.

The Library of Ahmet Havuz houses a collection of rare Arabian and Persian manuscripts, as well as a chronicle of the siege of Rhodes in 1522.

The new town of Rhodes has been built over the past century and is made up of a number of areas, including the Néa Agora with its Moorish domes and lively cafes, and Mandráki harbour, from where boat trips can be booked.

Accommodation

The 5-star Rodos Palace is the most luxurious hotel on the island, but there are many other fine establishments, such as the 5-star Rodos Park Suites, the Melenos Lindos and the Fashion Hotel Nikos Takis in the Old Town. The 4-star Marco Polo Mansion is evocative of medieval Rhodes and the 3-star San Niolis Hotel and the Paris Hotel offer charming accommodation in the Old Town.