The Greek island of Rhodes has been a popular beach resort since the early 20th century. A sufficient number of first-class hotels, equipped beaches and comfortable infrastructure have always attracted large flows of tourists. Today Rhodes proudly maintains its reputation as one of the most visited Mediterranean islands.
However, Rhodes has more to offer than a beach holiday. Its history goes back thousands of years. The monuments of Antiquity and the Middle Ages of the period of the Ottoman Empire and Italian rule are perfectly preserved here. Among the picturesque valleys of the island are scattered charming Greek towns, as if frozen in time under the gentle Mediterranean sun. In the colorful taverns, you can fully enjoy the local cuisine, which uses the best and only fresh ingredients.
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What to see on the island of Rhodes?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Rhodes fortress
The Rhodes fortress was built in the 13th century by the knights of the monastic order of St. John, better known as the Order of the Hospitallers. The walls of the building have grown on the site of the ancient acropolis. In the 15th century, the castle was considered one of the most impregnable fortresses in the Christian world. The ring of stone walls was more than 4 km long. Inside is the Palace of the Grand Masters, erected on the site of the Temple of Helios. Only the walls of this castle have survived to the days.
Medieval town of Rhodes
Inside the walls of the Rhodes fortress lie the medieval quarters of Rhodes, erected during the reign of the Order of St. John on the foundations of buildings from the Ancient era. 10 gates lead to the territory of the old city, located along the perimeter of the fortress wall. The streets of the medieval city are lined with cobblestones, knights once lived in the powerful walls of the preserved buildings, a hospital and administrative offices were located.
Street of the Knights
Street of the Knights is located in the Medieval City of Rhodes. It starts at the gates of the Palace of the Grand Masters. Mainly on this street are the houses of the "languages" - the national groups of knights who came to Rhodes from different countries. For example, there was once the House of French Knights and the House of Spain. In the Middle Ages, Knights Street also housed the stables of the order.
Lindos city
Lindos is one of the oldest cities on the island, founded in the 10th century BC. The local antique Acropolis is second only to the Athenian in importance. The local temple of Athena Lindia was once visited by Alexander the Great, and in the 1st century AD. e. the apostle Paul visited here. All city buildings are painted white. The ancient houses are many hundreds of years old, but according to the law, new buildings cannot be erected in the city in order to preserve its historical appearance.
Mandraki port
The ancient harbor, which has been the main port of Rhodes for 2.5 thousand years. At the entrance to the port there are two stone columns, on which in the 3rd century AD. leaned a giant 36-meter statue of the Colossus of Rhodes (now there are figures of deer). On the stone breakwater there are three medieval mills, preserved from the times of knights, and the fortress of St. Nicholas.
Fort of Saint Nicholas
In the past, the fort was part of the defensive system of Rhodes. It is located on the edge of a stone breakwater - a breakwater built in the Antiquity. First, in the 15th century, the central tower of the fortress was erected, which was named the "Tower of Mills". A few years after the Turkish siege in 1480, the structure was surrounded by a moat and walled. Today, there is a lighthouse on the territory of Fort St. Nicholas.
Acropolis of Lindos
The Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most significant architectural monuments in Greece. It is located on a cliff overhanging the sea. The first pagan temples appeared here in the 5th-4th centuries. BC. The main sanctuary of the Acropolis is a temple dedicated to Athena Linda, who was considered the patroness of the island. Many buildings have survived quite well to this day, so tourists can contemplate not only ruins.
Acropolis of rhodes
The Acropolis is located on the St. Stephen's Upland, where Monte Smith Park is located today. It consists of a stadium, an amphitheater and the remains of the temple of Apollo the Pythian. According to the excavations, the first buildings appeared here in the III-II centuries. BC In the era of Antiquity, sanctuaries of the gods, public institutions, theaters were located on the territory of the Rhodes acropolis. The main artifacts were discovered as a result of excavations from 1912-1945.
Rhodes stadium
The stadium is located on the territory of the Rhodes Acropolis. It was built in the 2nd century BC. It hosted sports competitions dedicated to the sun god Helios, who, along with Athena, was considered the patron saint of the island. It should be noted that the Rhodes athletes were among the strongest in ancient Greece. They constantly won prizes in competitions and earned numerous awards.
Ancient Kamiros
An ancient city in the north-west of the island, one of the most powerful cities in Rhodes, which flourished in the 5th century BC. Kamiros maintained economic ties with Asia Minor and the mainland Greek city-states, actively developed agriculture and minted his own coins. In the 3rd century A.D. Rhodes was hit by a devastating earthquake, as a result of which the inhabitants left Kamiros, and the city fell into decay.
Mount Filerimos
A hill on which one of the best viewpoints in Rhodes is located. From here you can see the ancient city of Ialyssos and the resort of Ixia. Also on the top and slopes of Filerimos are the ruins of the ancient Greek temples of Athena and Zeus and picturesque Christian cathedrals of the 15th-18th centuries. In the 16th century, a monastery of the Mother of God was built on the mountain, where the miraculous icon created by the Apostle Luke was placed. At the entrance to the mountain, there is an 18-meter concrete cross.
Tsambika monastery
The exact date of the construction of the monastery is unknown. The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary has been kept here since the 15th century. It is believed that she helps childless couples to conceive a child, so the flow of pilgrims to this place never dries up. Tsambika Monastery is divided into lower and upper ones. On the territory of the lower monastery there is a temple with an icon, an Orthodox museum, a cafe and a souvenir shop. The upper part of the monastery is located on the top of a hill, offering a magnificent view of the Tsambik beaches.
Church of Our Lady of Lindos
The temple was built in the 13th century and is located in the center of the ancient city of Lindos. Over the next centuries, the church was reconstructed more than once, one of the large-scale restorations was carried out under Pierre de Aubusson, Grand Master of the Order of St. John. The interior of the temple was renovated in the 20th century during the domination of the Italians in Rhodes. The church has a very picturesque snow-white facade, which contrasts sharply with the bright red tiled roof.
Synagogue Kahal Shalom
The Jews settled in Rhodes more than 2.3 thousand years ago, but the first synagogues began to appear already in the Middle Ages. Kahal Shalom is considered the oldest synagogue in Greece, it was built at the end of the 16th century and worked until the 30s. XX century, before the arrival of the fascist dictatorship. The Jews were expelled from the island, and the synagogue was abandoned. Today the synagogue has opened its doors again, but only during the high tourist season, when a sufficient number of tourists come to the island.
Church of Saint Nektarios in Faliraki
Saint Nektarios is a fairly revered figure in the Greek Orthodox Church, despite the fact that he was canonized relatively recently. It is believed to help the sick to heal from ailments. A small temple in his honor was built at the expense of pilgrims. The church was built in the classic Byzantine style. The facade of the building has an unusual terracotta shade and is decorated with graceful columns.
Church of St. Panteleimon in Xi'an
The temple is located in the center of the small village of Xian, which is 65 km away. from Rhodes, on the slope of Mount Akramitis. The temple was built in the XIV century from natural stone. Along the edges of the main façade are two symmetrical clock towers, and the building's roof is covered with red tiles. The church interiors are luxurious, the ceiling is decorated with magnificent frescoes and gilded.
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
The museum funds exhibit an extensive collection of artifacts found during excavations on the island's territory. Many of the exhibits are more than several thousand years old. One of the most valuable items in the collection is a statue of Aphrodite of Rhodes, dated to the 1st century BC. The sculpture is made of Parian marble. Also in the museum there are statues of gods created in the 6th-5th centuries. BC.
Monolithos castle
A 15th century castle built by the Knights of the Order of St. John. Like most similar structures of that time, Monolithos was built for defensive purposes. The building justified its purpose - in the entire history of its existence, the castle has never been taken by storm. Now the building is in a very neglected state, as over time it has undergone serious damage.
Kritinia castle
Defensive structure of the 16th century, erected during the reign of the Hospitallers. The castle was built in the Venetian style. Due to the convenient location, a panoramic and very convenient view opens from the walls, which made it possible to observe the enemy's maneuvers. After the siege in 1480, the castle was badly damaged. The knights of the order decided to take up its restoration later, but as a result of the defeat in the struggle for Rhodes, these plans were not destined to be realized.
Rodini park
The park is located a few kilometers from the center of Rhodes. It is considered the world's oldest landscape park and one of the main attractions of the island. It is not known exactly when Rodini was founded, but during the Roman Empire, the park was already a popular place for walking and relaxing. On its territory, parts of the Roman aqueducts have been preserved, century-old cypresses and pines grow here, there are also small lakes.
Kallithea Springs Baths
Thermal springs located in Kallithea - a resort village located near the city of Rhodes. The bathing complex was built in 1928 as part of the development of the tourist infrastructure on the island. The building of the baths was built according to the project of P. Lombardi, nowadays it is considered a valuable architectural monument. The baths operated until 1967, after which they were closed for 40 years. It was reopened in 2007.
Seven Sources
Natural landmark near the village of Kolimbia, located on the way from Rhodes to Lindos. Seven Springs is a network of small streams and springs, flowing straight from the rock and forming a lake with the purest drinking water. The area itself is quite picturesque, as it is located among the relict forest, overgrown with pines, cypresses and plane trees. To get to the lake, you need to go through a small tunnel.
Valley of the Butterflies
Conservation area located about 27 km. from the city of Rhodes. Lush green vegetation grows in this area, waterfalls beat, numerous streams merge into small lakes. Even in the hottest weather, you can find the long-awaited coolness here. In summer, thousands of motley butterflies arrive in the valley, causing the entire landscape to be covered with a bright colorful carpet. The place is considered unique not only in Greece, but throughout Europe.
Rhodes ostrich farm
The farm is home to over 120 ostriches, as well as deer, camels, birds, donkeys and goats. For the entertainment of visitors, riding on huge birds is organized. As in all similar places, the farm has a shop where customers are offered products from various parts of the ostrich. A local restaurant serves this poultry for lunch and an omelet made from huge eggs. The farm is located near the village of Petaloudes.
Agati beach
A picturesque piece of coastline with golden sand and the purest azure sea. The beach is located near the village of Haraki. Agati is popular with tourists with children due to its fairly gentle descent into the sea. The beach has a developed tourist infrastructure with taverns, sun lounger rental and other services. "Agia agati" in translation means "holy purity."
Tsambika beach
A beach located at the foot of Mount Tsambika, the surroundings of which are considered the most beautiful places in Rhodes. The beach has a rather long sandy strip; it is distinguished by the increased purity and transparency of the sea. To services of tourists - numerous cafes, sports centers and entertainment. Quite a popular pastime is quad biking in the vicinity of the beach.
Cape Prasonisi
The cape is located in the southernmost part of the island and is connected to Rhodes by a narrow sandy isthmus. In winter, the waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas flood this passage, and in summer they retreat to form a magnificent sandbar that is used as a beach. Cape Prasonisi is a popular destination for kitesurfers and windsurfers.
Agios Pavlos bay
The bay of Agios Pavlos is located near the ancient Acropolis of Lindos. It is believed that in the 1st century A.D. here the apostle Paul landed. There is a beautiful sandy and pebble beach, equipped with all the necessary infrastructure. The natural ledges of the surrounding rocks serve as springboards for diving. In honor of St. Paul, a small snow-white church was erected on the territory of the bay.
Anthony Queen Cove
The bay is one of the most picturesque places in Rhodes. It is named after the actor E. Queen, who was popular in the first half of the 20th century. In the 60s. the actor acquired a piece of land and settled on the territory of the bay. According to another version, it is believed that the authorities of Rhodes were so pleased with the presence of the star that they granted him land for perpetual use in exchange for the creation of a cinema center on the island. But Quinn did nothing and had to leave.
Water park in Faliraki
A popular amusement park located on the territory of the resort town of the same name. The water park has areas for children of all ages, so even the smallest visitors are safe. Near the complex there is a beach, many shops, restaurants, souvenir shops. In the high season, there is always a large influx of tourists in the water park, which is why queues form at the slides.
