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| HISTORY
The archeological finds and some of the place names in Rhodes indicate that the island's first inhabitants were pre-Hellenic tribes related to the peoples of Asia Minor. The Achaeans settled here in the second millennium BC and gave rise to what is known as the Aegean civilization. |
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| They were succeeded by the Dorians, who founded three cities (Lindos, Ialyssos and Kameiros) and were extremely active in developing colonies and commerce. |
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Their prosperity reached its peak in the 4th century BC. It was at this time that the Lindos sculptor Chares created one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Colossus of Rhodes is destroyed by an earthquake in 222 BC. Rhodes attempted to resist the Macedonians and later gave full support to the Romans. During the Middle Ages, many powers laid claim to this rich island, including the Arabs (7th c.), Saracens (8th c.) and Crusaders (1097), not to mention any number of pirates. |
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| In 1306, the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem took control over the island, which was administrated by the Grand Masters who also built the medieval city and fortress. Their rule lasted until 1522 when they succumbed to the Turks. Rhodes was governed by the Italians from 1912 to 1945; all the Dodecanese were restored to Greece in 1947. |
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SIGHTSEEING
At the crossroads of civilization, Rhodes with its age old history and its formidable natural beauty was and still is a major pole of attraction. Of great interest from the archeological standpoint, its three ancient cities command the most attention. Lindos, the most important, is also blessed with a lovely beach and a charming village. |
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| On the acropolis one can seen ruins of the temple of Athena in the south-west section of Rhodes. Its acropolis stands on the peak of Mt. Philerimpos and contains the foundations of the temple of Athena Ialyssia as well as Mycenaean tombs. In the valley below, a necropolis with tombs from the Late Mycenaean to Classical periods lies near a Doric fountain and ruined early Christian Lindia, the Doric stoa, palaces etc. |
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| Kameiros, an unfortified city, lies on the north-west coast of the island. Among its ruins are a temple of Athena, a stoa, aqueduct and a number of graves in which considerable jewellery, pottery, sculpture and inscriptions were discovered. Ialyssos, the third, was one of the oldest cities and Byzantine churches. The capital with 30.000 inhabitants is a modern town equipped with all the amenities. |
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The walls of the castle of the Knights divides the new city from the old - one of the most evocative places in Greece, with its flagged streets, arched facades, quaint hoses, minarets and myriad shops and restaurants. The northern district belonged exclusively to the Knights. This is where they built the Palace of the Grand Master (now a museum) and the inns of the various tongues or language groups. |
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| Interesting monuments are not absent from the modern town either, where multi-storey hotels stand next to neo-Gothic administration buildings watched over by old windmills. |
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| Rhodes also possesses one of the finest aquariums in the Mediterranean, where the life of the deep is depicted in a particularly fascinating manner. The outskirts of town are embellished by a large public park called Rodini with artificial canals and a small zoo. From the hill named Monte Smith inside the town limits there is a panoramic view of the whole island; modern-day residents have chosen to build their pretty villas on this pine-covered hill where the acropolis once stood. |
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Twelve kilometers from the capital, the seaside village of Kallithea is an organized spa with mineral water to drink and bath in. The phenomenon of the Valley of the Butterflies can be enjoyed from July through the end of August. The vision f thousands of iridescent butterflies hovering over the fields is unforgettable, but even without them the scenery makes an indelible impression on the memory. |
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| Rhodes also contains an abundance of Byzantine monuments. In town special note are the 5th century basilica, the Panayia of the Kastro (11th-12th c.), Agios Georgios (14th c.), and Agios Phanourios (13th c.). |
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| Further afield, at Philerimos, lies Our Lady of Philerimos (15th c.), while near the villahe of Lardos two monasteries are worth a visit: Psenis with its important wall paintings and the now abandoned Skiathis. Rhodes is considered among the most sophisticated islands in the Mediterranean. Its hotels - of every category - are superbly run, and all kind of entertainment are available - nightclubs, discos, bars, a gambling casino and theatres - in the town. |
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Conversely, the less densely settled southern part of the island is the place to go for more relaxing holidays, picturesque villages and tranquil beaches. Rhodes may be different from the other Greek islands but its cosmopolitan atmosphere, rich history and wealth of exquisite monuments are some of the features that make it so individual and delightful. |
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