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Rhodes, the largest of
Greece’s Dodecanese islands, is known for its
beach resorts, ancient ruins and remnants of its
occupation by the Knights of St. John during the
Crusades. The fortified medieval
old town of Rhodes has many great religious,
civil and military monuments, churches,
monasteries, mosques, baths, palaces, forts,
gates and ramparts.
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The medieval city of Rhodes is a UNESCO world heritage site for
its impact during the period of the knights (1309-1522) and its
example of the architectural style of the Crusades that
combines Byzantine, French, and Spanish influences.
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The medieval city
is surrounded by a 4 km wall built to protect Rhodes from
attacks by foreign empires and corsairs that sailed the
Mediterranean and Aegean.
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Evrion Martiron
Square (The Square of the Jewish Martyrs- also called Sea
Horse Square) is surrounded by taverns, cafes and souvenir
shops. Artists set up easels to paint portraits of visitors.
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Ippokratous
Square,the juncture of two main market streets, is a hub for
exploring Medieval Rhodes with its ancient fountain,
staircase and Castellania library.
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The
Archeological Museum of Rhodes is housed in the hospital that
was built by the knights of St. John in the 15th century.
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The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
is a medieval castle that was previously a citadel of the
Knights Hopitaller that functioned as a palace, headquarters
and fortress.
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The Street of the Knights
(Ippoton Street), lined with the 7 inns representing the 7
countries of origin of the knights, is where the knights
lived, trained, worked and prayed.
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The winding
cobbled lanes of Old Rhodes are impeccably maintained and a
delight to wander.
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The view from the
7th Century clock tower takes in the domes and
minarets of diverse traditions.
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Tarsanas Gate
serves as the exit from the old town to the old Mendraki
harbour.
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The late
gothic Church of Panagia (Our Lady) of the Burgh was
badly damaged in WWII.
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St. Catherine's
Gate was erected in 1478 as a defense against Ottoman
attack. A siege in 1522 was successful and secured Ottoman
control of the Eastern Mediterranean.
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There are three
harbours in Rhodes, where commercial and pleasure craft
access outlying islands.
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Outside the
walls lies a modern downtown core.
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Although Rhodes
gets very little rain, it is famous for selling umbrellas.
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