What to See in Rhodes (Greece)
According to Clothesbliss.com, Rhodes is the main island of the Southern Sporades (Dodecanese) archipelago, which is located in the Aegean Sea. According to legend, when Rhodes rose from the sea, Apollo was fascinated by its beauty and endowed it with his blessing. The island, with its magnificent beaches, blue sea and whitewashed houses in the villages, has retained its beauty to this day. An extensive network of hotel complexes, a European level of service, an abundance of restaurants with European and Greek national cuisine, traditional fish taverns, a fun nightlife combined with historical attractions attract a large number of tourists every year.
The capital of the island bears the same name – Rhodes. The city consists of two parts – historical and modern. The spirit of a big metropolitan city reigns in the modern part. Many modern buildings and luxury hotels have been built here, wide avenues are seething, numerous shops offer their goods, and hundreds of lights are lit at night. Not so historical at all. It keeps the memory of ancient and medieval eras.
Ancient Rhodes is located on a hill and extends to the medieval city. The ruins of the stadium, gymnasium, theater, temples of Zeus, Athena and Apollo have been preserved here. In the Middle Ages, the island was occupied by the knights of the Order of St. John, formed in Jerusalem, who chose Rhodes its headquarters. The most majestic monument of their stay in the city is the Palace of the Grand Masters. It was built on the site where there was once a Byzantine fortress of the 7th century. Today the palace houses a museum. Its main expositions are devoted to the early Christian period in the history of the island, the daily life of the inhabitants of the island, and the modern life of Rhodes. Here are stored mosaic floors from Greek, Roman and early Christian churches, Greek and Roman sculptures. The Archaeological Museum is located in the building of the former Knights’ Hospital of the 15th century. The museum displays valuable works of art, the most interesting of which is the marble head of the god Helios from the 2nd century BC. and two lovely statues of Aphrodite.
The knights surrounded Rhodes fortress walls that have survived to this day. The inner wall divides this territory into two unequal parts – the smaller Collachio and the larger Burgo (Chora). Knights lived in Collachio, front houses and main churches were built here. The main street of Collachio is the street of the Knights. On both sides of this cobbled street were the residences of eight nationalities. Over the past 500 years since the knights were on the island, the city has not changed much. And today you can walk along the street of the 15th century, where the knights of the order lived. Greeks lived in Burgo. There were residential buildings, a business center, a synagogue, Orthodox and Catholic churches, public buildings, barracks. During the Turkish rule, the Turks settled in the old city, pushing the Greeks out of the city. These times are reminded of the Suleiman Mosque, the Muslim library,
You can take a break from sightseeing in the magnificent Rodini Park. It is very quiet here, the air is fragrant with the aromas of cypress, pine and oleander. By choosing any of the paths, you will be taken to a seething stream winding between the trees.
55 km south of Rhodes is the city of Lindos, whose history goes back about 3500 years. Before the founding of the city of Rhodes, it was one of the main cities on the island, turning into a city-state. At the top of the mountain stands the acropolis of Lindos. During the time of the knights, the acropolis was turned into a fortress. The main attraction of the city is the Temple of Athena. Here you can also look at the image of an ancient antique ship carved right on the rock.
Ialyssos is the third most important of the cities built by the Dorians. Filerimos with the acropolis is located 5 km from the city. A kind of archaeological reserve has been opened here, where the ruins of the temples of Zeus and Athena, the Dorian fountain of the 6th century BC, as well as monuments of the Byzantine and knightly periods of dominion are located. You should also visit the churches of the Filerim Mother of God of the 15th century. and St. George XIV – XV centuries.
Another interesting excursion is an excursion to the Butterfly Valley, located in the Petaloudes region.
The island has a very rich cultural heritage. Wherever you go, almost everywhere you can see monuments of the ancient, Byzantine and knightly eras.
Sports lovers Rhodes provides opportunities for golf, tennis, volleyball, jogging, as well as for sea sports such as windsurfing, scuba diving, speedboat racing.
