Many people have heard about the fortress of Rhodes, but not everyone had the unique opportunity to look behind the majestic walls of the centuries-old citadel, which for more than two hundred years was called invincible and impregnable. Walking on the territory of the fortification, which resisted the most powerful onslaughts of the conquerors, you can mentally plunge back in time and feel all the awe of the great events of the past. A visit to the Greek bastion will be especially interesting for connoisseurs of the series "The Magnificent Century", the plot of which is closely linked to the history of the fortress of Rhodes.
In ancient times the city of Rhodes was surrounded by fortress walls, but only the Knights Hospitallers gave these structures a truly militaristic quality. Their order was named after John the Baptist, whom the warriors considered their patron.
The fortress of Rhodes in the Middle Ages was a city of 5000 inhabitants. In spite of the fact that it is called invincible, in its biography too there were loud defeats.
Suleiman's Trophy
The Rhodesian fortress held out against the Egyptians in 1444 and the Ottomans in 1480, but fell to the Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522. Yes, this is the same Suleiman, who was married to the legendary beauty Roxolana.
The siege of the fortress by Suleiman's troops lasted long six months. During this time, the city was defended side by side by knights and local volunteers. Since the forces were unequal, Master Philip capitulated, taking the relics, weapons and banners of the brotherhood of knights. Charles V later called that defeat the most dignified possible.
Today, the architectural structures and heraldic drawings imprinted on the stone walls are reminders of those glorious times.
To get into the Rhodesian fortress, you have to go through one of the eleven gates placed along its perimeter. The most impressive of these is the Amboise Gate.
Fortress Gate
A narrow bridge and a pair of defensive towers on each side made the Amboise Gate quite impregnable to uninvited guests. However, the main entrance to the Rhodes fortress is not called the Amboise, but the gate of St. Athanasius, through which in 1522 the army of Suleiman the Magnificent penetrated into the citadel. The Turkish commander immediately ordered them sealed to protect the Citadel from other invaders.
Also important to the Citadel was the Saint John's Gate, also called the "red door". The name comes from the fact that a sea of Turkish blood was spilled during the siege of the Fortress.
The remaining 8 gates faced the sea, the approaches to them are not very suitable for an assault, so there was no special need to strengthen them.
The Abode of the Master, King and Dictator
The heart of the fortress is considered to be the Palace of the Master Hospitallers.
During the reign of Suleiman the castle became deserted. Global reconstruction of the building was carried out only in the 20th century, after the island of Rhodes became part of Italy. The palace was prepared as a summer residence for the Italian King Victor Emmanuel the Third, and then the dictator Benito Mussolini, who, however, in Rhodes generally did not appear.
Now the doors of the palace are open to ordinary visitors. Especially impressive are the mosaics made by Italian artists in the early 20th century.
In recent years, the Palace of the Masters has become a place of solemn ceremonies in the world forum "Dialogue of Civilizations".
Double walls with a moat
In Hospitaller times, the defense of the Rhodes fortifications was distributed among the knightly squads, consisting of people of the same language. Hospitaller Order united 7 "languages", but they defended only 5 sections. The most famous bastions of the citadel were defended by Italian, Spanish and English "tongues".
The walls of the fortress, which were about 4 km long, have a double structure with a water moat inside twenty meters wide. The moat has long since been dried up, but the preserved power of the walls is still impressive.
The streets of Socrates and Knights
The street of the Knights originates from the Castle of the Magisters and runs for 200 km to the East. All the old administrative buildings of the Order, which in the past were thickly strewn with Ippoton, have been thoroughly restored and form an architectural ensemble with other religious buildings: the Holy Trinity Church, the house of the Turkish Prince Cem, the medieval hospital, converted into a museum. By the way, in this very museum you can see unique exhibits - the head of the Colossus of Rhodes and the statue of Aphrodite.
Socrates Street is considered the epicenter of the city's commerce and a true Mecca for tourists. Here are concentrated all kinds of entertainment venues, cafes, restaurants and bars. If we talk about cultural food, the city's guests can enjoy the old buildings of religious shrines of different eras and beautiful gardens. There are also the Sea Gate, the Baths of Suleiman, the Archbishop's Palace and the Seahorse Fountain.
An introduction to Greece would not be complete without seeing the main attraction of Rhodes - its impregnable fortress. This knightly castle has experienced so many historical events in its lifetime, that the mere presence on its walls, on which the symbols of the proud warriors of the Middle Ages are still painted, enthralls and excites the imagination. The Rhodes Fortress is a place where the Middle Ages intertwine with the present.
You can enter the Rhodes Fortress itself for free. But a ticket that allows you to visit the Palace of the Grand Master and 3 other institutions, costs about 10 euros. The time of stay on the territory of the fortress is not limited. Here you can also buy the works of local artists and traditional souvenirs for a reasonable price.
The easiest way to get to Rhodes is by bus. Tickets can be purchased at special kiosks at stops or directly from the driver. The price is approximately 1 euro. If you get to the fortress through the city, you can walk. The main thing is to follow the signs that say Old Town.
