CRUISE THROUGH THE GREEK ISLANDS. STAGE 6: RHODES

According to Greek mythology, the island of Rhodes was the gift of the god of Olympus Zeus at the wedding of Helios, the sun god, and the nymph Rhoda, daughter of Aphrodite. Since then the inhabitants of Rhodes are considered the children of the sun. In honor of his god, a huge 35-meter-high statue was erected at the entrance of the port, the famous Colossus of Rhodes ...

Yes gentlemen ... the trip is over, but I could not do it in a better way than on the island of Rhodes, without a doubt the one that has touched us the most. Bordering on the Turkish coast, this island is the largest in the Dodecanese archipelago and its history is almost as extensive as its legends. Next we tell you everything you have to see and do in Rhodes in a few hours visit. And you know, at the end of the article you have all the useful information to prepare the visit.

Imagine yourself in a Phoenician ship. After months trading in countless ports of the Mediterranean you are returning to your homeland, tired and wanting to see your wife and children. But two days after arriving you are surprised by a huge storm in the middle of the night ... the ship barely remains afloat, the rudder is broken and you are at the mercy of Astarte.

Without faith, clinging to any fixed wood in what is left of the boat, you think you see a light in the distance, very shy and flashing, but a light after all. Although the first thing that comes to mind is that they are the delusions of death, you quickly see that the other surviving crew members also react and stand up ... The light becomes increasingly intense, the storm begins to cease and the idea of ​​dying old doesn't seem so far-fetched now.

Before you stands a huge illuminated statue, the very image of a god who has just saved you from certain death. It is the Colossus of Rhodes, the “luminous sculpture” welcomes you to the port of the city of Rhodes, the same one we went through in the last stage of our cruise through the Greek islands.

The Colossus of Rhodes was only standing 66 years, from 292 BC. to 226 BC, the year it was destroyed by an earthquake. But the enormity of this work made it one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World", along with the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Lighthouse of Alexandria, among others.

Wikipedia photo

Apparently in recent times it was proposed to build a reproduction of enormous dimensions, but the inhabitants refused for reasons of superstition ... who knows if we will see the Colossus again in the port of Rhodes in the future ...

What we did see on our visit was an enormously beautiful medieval city, with narrow alleys, imposing palaces, centuries-old cobbled floors, walls loaded with history, minarets, crosses and stars. But not only the capital is worth a visit ... we rented a motorcycle and went to explore the city of Lindos, with its acropolis on top, its labyrinths at its feet and its beautiful bay.

Next we tell you what to see and do in Rhodes in one day and some interesting getaways, but first, a brief introduction to the history of Rhodes.

To understand the history of Rhodes, special attention must be paid to its strategic location, between the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, between East and West, in the middle of trade routes. This fact makes the island of Rhodes a place of union between many civilizations and cultures throughout the centuries. Here the Dorians, the Macedonians of Alexander the Great, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians ... have passed and left their mark.

But those who really influenced the development of the city in the Medieval Age were the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who after being expelled from the Holy Land with the fall of the fortress of St. John of Acre (1291), they bought the island from the Genoese, beginning a period of splendor and greatness for two hundred years, resisting the attacks of their enemies of the Mediterranean.

After these, the island was conquered by the Ottoman hands of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522, the Ottoman Empire would exercise its power until 1922, the year in which the Italians invaded it. After World War II in which it was under German occupation, the island was handed over to Greece in 1948.

We will propose an itinerary on foot through the streets of Rhodes for those who only have a few hours in this city. If you prefer to hire a tour, this is a good option.

The cruise port is just in front of the medieval city, once on land you can continue along the coast street leaving several doors to the citadel like the Santa Caterina Gate, the main one, or the Door of the Virgin Mary or that of the Marina Gate. We will reach the ruins of the old Parade, where we will access through the San Pablo Gate.

Parade

From one of its windows we will observe one of the most typical postcards of Rhodes: 3 windmills lined up in the harbor, with the Fort of San Nicolás in the background, enclosing theMandraki old port, where it is believed that the Colossus of Rhodes was located.

Rhodes Mills

Just in front of the harbor is the New Market, a huge seven-sided building with an open central courtyard where the old fish market cited. Today it is a good place to have coffee or eat in one of its restaurants and bars.

New Market

From here we have two possibilities: enter the medieval city through the Eleftherias Gate, or take the surrounding path the impressive walls, leaving to the left several of the defensive towers and reaching the Medieval Moat. It will pass under the bridge that leads to the Amboise Gate (no possibility to access it from here below) until you find the small San Antonio Gate, hidden between the walls, and hit just in front of the Palace of the Grand Master.

Rhodes Walls

If you have decided to enter through the Eleftherias Gate you will pass through some small squares and the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite, until you reach the Panagia tu Kastru Church, founded in the 11th century as a cathedral of Orthodox Christians. After the arrival of the Crusaders it was used as a Catholic church. The headwaters of their three ships remain, which can be visited without problems.

Panagia tu Kastru Church

Here begins the main street of the medieval Rhodes, the Knights Street (or Ippoton), a cobbled road enclosed between the residences and palaces of the different ethnic groups of the Knights of San Juan, as well as souvenir shops and cafes. One of the buildings that attracts attention is the Knights Hospital, to our right just at the beginning of the street. Built as a warehouse and armory today it houses the Archeology Museum (€ 8).

After touring Ippoton Street we will arrive at Palace of the Grand Master (€ 6), the most important building in Rhodes. Initially it was built as a Byzantine fortress in the seventh century and later after the cross invasion it became the administrative center of the order and residence of the Grand Master, after its great defensive walls many secrets are kept that will remain there forever. Although what you can know are the exhibitions on the city of Rhodes on its first floor. From the courtyard of the palace you can access the road over the walls for € 2.

Palace of the Grand Master

At this point it is worth leaving the walls for a moment through the Amboise Gate, perhaps taking a few steps towards the new city and crossing the little park and, why not, cooling off with a natural orange juice.

Amboise Gate

Return back to the interior of the city and continue along Orfeos Street, where you will pass by the clock tower, which you can access to have beautiful views from its viewpoint (yes, paying € 5), the Soliman Mosque erected in commemoration of the Sultan's victory over the Knights in 1522, and the Muslim Library just in front.

Soliman Mosque

The perfect time has come to get lost in the narrowest and least crowded streets of the city, but try to go through the Arionos Square where the Turkish Baths (Dimotika Loutra) and the Mustafa Sultan Mosque, the Church of Agios Fanurios, the street with the same name (one of the most beautiful in the whole city), theRecep Pasha Mosque waveIbrahim Pasha Mosque, the oldest on the island.

Tired? We hope not because you still have something more to visit. If you continue along the Sokratus shopping street, you will reach the livelyIppocratus Square, one of the epicenters of the city. Around this square you will find many restaurants and cafes, in case you need to regain strength, although what attracts more attention is the central source and the huge Castellanía Building.

This used to be the meeting place also in ancient times, as it is the first place that was after crossing the main city gate, the Thalassini Gate (or Marina), the largest and most beautiful entrance of the chivalrous period.

Following the Aristotélus street you reach the old Jewish Ghetto, which highlights the Jewish Martyrs Square with the "Admiralty" and the Synagogue.

To end the day there is no better plan than to go out through the Virgin Mary Gate and take a dip in the calm waters of the Aegean Sea.

A good idea is to rent a motillo and go exploring the island. Some of the places of interest are:

- Acropolis of Rhodes. It is located on the top of Mount Smith and is free to enter. It is not especially interesting, although it remains part of the Temple of Apollo, the magnificent Stadium and the Theater. You can visit quietly on foot in a little while. To get there you can do it with bus n. 9.

Acropolis of Rhodes

- Cute. This spectacular medieval town is 55 km from Rhodes and is worth a visit. It is dominated by the Acropolis at the top of the hill which can be accessed on foot in a short 10-minute walk (or with a donkey ... but you know that this is not the best option) and admission costs € 12. The ruins are not the best in Greece but the views are spectacular. In addition Lindos is located between two beautiful bays, one with an excellent beach, and on the other side the curious Bay of St. Paul.

Cute

St. Paul's Bay

- Beaches of Tsampika and Afandou. They are two of the beaches that are on the way to Lindos. The first is somewhat more crowded, the second quieter and with clear and clean water.

Afandou Beach

- Faliraki. It is a coastal town with a lot of atmosphere, we cross it with the motorcycle and we start whipping from there. It has many services and it is not a bad plan to stop to eat or drink something.

- Kamiros. They are the ruins of an ancient Helena city 40 km from Rhodes. They date from the 5th century BC and after being abandoned it was buried underground until it was discovered in the last century. Admission is € 6.

These are the best things to see and do in Rhodes in a few hours. We hope you enjoy your visit!

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