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While not considered one of the prettiest of
the Greek
Islands, Rhodes (Ródos) located just 7 miles off the coast of Turkey, offers beautiful beaches, a great climate
and interesting archaeological sites. It also offers a chance to explore one of the historic
homes of the Knights of St. John, who along with the Knights Templar,
played a key role in the Crusades. Rhodes is a good place
to use as a base if you are interested in touring the remaining Dodecanese
chain of Islands (Kos, Patmos and Kalymnos and 11 other islands).
The entrance to the harbor at Rhodes and the St. Nicholas
lighthouse. The deer statues are thought to mark
the location where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood.
Legend has it that the Colossus of Rhodes (an
enormous statue honoring a god) spanned the ancient harbor of the
town of Rhodes (Ródos - the island and its main town have the same name).
There is great debate as to whether the statue was set in the harbor or on
nearby cliffs, although its existence is not debated (the statue was
described by Pliny the Elder (1st Century CE) who witnessed its ruins). It was
created by Charles of Lindos (Rhodes) in the 3rd century BC and destroyed by
a major earthquake 50 to 60 years later. The ruins of the statue were
eventually sold off and there is now no evidence of the Colossus or its
location.
In the early 1300s, the Knights of St. John
(the Knights Hospitaller),
attacked Rhodes, which had become a base of operations for pirates focused
on plundering Christian trade in the
eastern Mediterranean and eastern Aegean Seas. The Knights
vanquished the pirates and established themselves as the rulers of the island.
During their tenure, they constructed massive fortifications and a thousand bed hospital.
In addition, they developed Rhodes into a formidable sea power.
It has been hypothesized that the "embarrassment" that resulted from having
been ousted from the Holy Lands by the Muslims at the end of the Crusades, led the Knight of St. John
to harass Muslim trade along the coast from Egypt to Greece (an area then
known as the "Levant") and use the spoils from their victories to continue their
hospital system. From the fourteenth through the 16th century, the Hospitallers continued to fortify Rhodes and the impressive
walls guarding the harbor are a prime example of these efforts.
The Fortress stands proudly over the
harbor at Rhodes
The Knights of St. John and the Ottoman Turks
contested Rhodes, several times in extremely brutal combat, but the Ottomans under Suleiman the
Magnificent prevailed at the end of the sixteenth century, after
bombarding the town for six months. (In defeat, the Knights relocated to
Malta where they, again, battled and were finally victorious against the
Turks.) The island's historical affiliations with various countries
and conquerors provides Rhodes a unique
signature, as is true of several of the islands in the Dodecanese chain.
The City of Rhodes mixes the old with the new,
although the commercial side of tourism has taken a definite toll Nevertheless, it is a great
place to walk and bask in the centuries of history.
If you are on a cruise, enter the city
through a gate leading to the Central Square, which is adorned by a large
fountains and surrounded by many gaily colored shops and several
restaurants. If you are looking of lace, tablecloths or various embroidered
work, this is the place for you.
Rhodes - Palace of the Grandmasters
- The most impressive site in the town of
Rhodes is the Palace of the Grandmasters, although the original building was largely
destroyed by an accidental gunpowder explosion during the Turkish rule.
- At its peak in the 14th Century, the building was known as the "Palais des
Malades" and could provide aid to 1,000 patients. Legend holds that
each bed had linen sheets and all plates used for feeding were made of
silver.
- It is
a handsome and impressive facility. In the 1930s, the Italians
revitalized this impressive building to serve as a palace for Mussolini.
- The central hospice area was a cavernous, dark room
with even darker small cells for the patients on the sides of the large
hall. These "healing rooms" quickly induce claustrophobia and it seems as if
the summer heat would have made the location unbearable for
recuperation.
- The museum at the Palace has the usual collection of unremarkable
antiquities, featuring the carved heads of various gods and goddesses and
plenty of amphorae (jugs) used for carrying water, wine and oil.
Lindos
The ruins at Lindos, 30 miles from town of Rhodes, attract most tourists who
visit the island. You will need to rent a car or join a tour to visit Lindos. In order to access the ruins, you will park
in the marked lot just outside
of Lindos, walk through the town and up the hill. Along the way, you will
pass interesting shops filled with fine linens, crewel and embroideries. The
path up the hill is filled with local merchants displaying and selling their home
made lace tablecloths (as well as beach towels made in China). The ruins
are a very popular place and can be very crowded. The sun is relentless in
the summer, so visit as early in the morning as possible. Not only will
you avoid the heat, but also the battalions of tour buses headed to this
delightful location.
The original Temple (Sanctuary) of Athena Lindia at the top of
the hill was originally constructed in the 8th or 9th century B.C. (local guides will
tell you 1500 B.C.) and destroyed by fire 500 years later. The Temple now gracing the
top of the hill (called the Acropolis at Lindos by many) was built in the 4th
century B.C.
The Temple of Athena Lindia in Lindos, Rhodes
There are several distinct sections to the Acropolis at Lindos, but the Temple
of Athena and the beautiful view of St. Paul's Harbor are highlights of any
visit. (The name St. Paul's Harbor is based on the legend that St. Paul's boat
landed here during the Apostle's visit to Rhodes). As mentioned previously,
there is much to do and see at Lindos and you should consider a guided tour of
the area to understand the importance of this site. For more information
on visiting see this
site.
Other Interesting historical sites
Finally, there are two other archaeological sites of interest. If you have
the time, see the
Acropolis at Rhodes (the city) and Kamiros (on the west coast
road), a city which was abandoned over two thousand years ago and rediscovered
only in the 20th century.
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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The Palace of the Grandmasters
The Acropolis at Lindos
The remains of the Governor's Palace at Lindos, which was fortified by the
Knights of St. John (the Hospitallers) in the 14th century.
St. Paul's Harbor viewed from the Acropolis at Lindos
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