Rhodes. All sights of the island

Thanks to a thousand-year history, Rhodes is a treasure trove of historically significant sights of Greece. Only in the last year the local airport transferred over 5 million passengers, and this is without taking into account the sea and road routes. What is the secret of such popularity of the island? The answer is simple - magnificent beaches, perfect climate, always good weather and, of course, unique monuments and lots of entertainments. If you want to know Greece as well as you can, come to Rhodes, a place where ancient civilizations once lived.

Historical monuments

It is impossible to get acquainted with Rhodes without visiting the legendary bastion of the Hospitallers. The Rhodian fortress, erected in the 13th century on the site of the ancient acropolis, was considered the most impregnable in those times. Until now, the coat of arms, shields and weapons that have survived till our times remind us of the heroic past.

The central object attracting the attention of travellers is the incredibly colourful Palace of the Grand Masters, built on the place of Helios temple. Everything that you knew about knights, fortresses, towers and palaces - everything fit inside this magnificent building with towers and heraldry.

There are 10 gates inside the fortress, and the medieval quarters of Rhodes are behind it. The streets are paved with cobblestones, and in the buildings inside the walls the clergy of the Order and the defenders of the city once lived. The main street of Rhodes is the Knights Street, leading from the main gate to the Palace of the Magisters. Walking through the ancient city, you must visit the archaeological museum, where the entire heritage of the island is collected. One of the most popular exhibits is the head of the god Helios, known as the Colossus of Rhodes. Another valuable exhibit is the sculpture of Aphrodite, over which time is not powerful.

The ancient city of Lindos deserves your attention. It was founded in the 10th century BC. when Alexander the Great visited this place. The ancient Acropolis of the city is second after Athens. Preserved houses are not one hundred years old and they are all painted in an exceptionally white colour. The government imposed a ban on the construction of new buildings, in order to preserve the historical appearance of the city, so the time seemed to stop here.

The Church of the Virgin in Lindos was built in the 13th century, but until our time it has survived numerous reconstructions. The last time the building was renovated in the 20th century. Like all buildings, the church is painted white, but has a bright, tiled roof, visible from a long distance.

On the way from Rhodes to Lindos, you can visit the natural attraction - the Seven Sources. Streams from the rock with clear drinking water flow into the lake amidst the ever green forest.

You can feel the power and the depths of centuries and the atmosphere of the ancient Rhodes Acropolis, located on Mount Monte Smith. The complex of buildings includes the ancient stadium and amphitheater, as well as the temple of Apollo Pythian. The stadium was built in the 2nd century BC. If you set your imagination free, you can imagine how games were held in honour of the god Helios, who was considered to be the patron of Rhodes.

The defensive castle of Kritinia is among the most iconic attractions of the island, and it was built in the 16th century. There is a wonderful panoramic view of the west coast of Rhodes and the surrounding land from its walls.

The Monolithos Castle was also erected to observe the enemy's maneuvers, but a view to the southern part of the island opens from its walls. The fortification is at an altitude of 350 meters above sea level on the mountainside. A tiny church was inside its walls, where church services are still available.

 

Rhodes Orthodox

Rhodes is often visited by pilgrims, since the island is rich in Orthodox shrines. One of them is the female Monastery of Tsambika, where the icon of the Virgin Mary is located, helping married couples with the conception of a child.

On Mount Filerimos is another shrine - the monastery of the Filerim Mother of God, built in the 14th century. Local monks are engaged in collecting and preparing various medicinal tinctures and ointments that can be purchased in a shop near the entrance to the monastery. There is also selling the famous liqueur "Seven Herbs", which has medicinal properties. At the top of the mountain a huge 16-meter cross is erected, to which the cypress alley "Path to Calvary" leads.

In Falikari, travelers can also visit the Byzantine church of St. Nektarii, which is considered to be a healer of various ailments. This is a great place for praying for health and contemplating the interior of an old shrine.

What else to see

The port of Mandraki is famous for the fact that once upon a time its entrance towered the legendary Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world. A terrible earthquake in 226 BC. overthrew a huge titan, and the statue split into pieces. Some pieces were swallowed up the water, and something was melted into coins by the Arabs. All that's left are memories, fantasies and legends.

Since the time of the knights, three windmills have been preserved in the bay, settled on a breakwaters, and a mini fortress - the fort of St. Nicholas of the 15th century.

There is the oldest landscape park in the world not far from Rhodes - it is the Rodini park. This place with age-old cypresses and small lakes is perfect for leisurely walks and memorable photo sessions.

Rhodes is loved by so many visitors and guests. It is known by its exciting sun and the sea, entertainments, regales with national Greek cuisine and wines, but also it will be interesting with its unique history and rich culture, which any traveller can join.