Rhodes, Greece: Soak Up The History And The Mediterranean Sun

282 Shares

Rhodes is bigger than any other island situated in the north-east tip of the Dodecanese archipelago and it is the capital town of this group of islands. The island lies between Karpathos and Kos. A well preserved Venetian castle that was built by the famous Knights of Saint John houses this town within its walls.

The climate here is a mild Mediterranean one, with sunny and dry summers and mild winters.

The interesting sites and wonderful beaches make this island one of the most popular among the islands in Greece.

A Little Bit of History

Lindos Bay, Rhodes Island

The strategic position of this island has made it vulnerable to many attacks from its early times.

Asians were the first settlers in Rhodes and they were followed by the Mycenaeans and the Dorians.

Medieval Avenue of the Knights, Rhodes, Greece - This is one of the most popular streets in Rhodes. It is the well-preserved street where the kings lived and along with other historic sites of Rhodes make a great experience for history lovers.

Medieval Avenue of the Knights, Rhodes

The Acropolis was built during 500 BC, when many temples and structures were also built.

It was in 480 BC that the three earliest cities, Ialyssos, Lindos and Kameiros, were combined to form the today’s famous port town.

It became a free island in 305 BC and the Colossus of Rhodes, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was built during this time. However, this statue was demolished during an earthquake.

In later centuries the island was conquered successively by Romans, Turks, Persians, Saracens, Venetians and the Genovese.

The Knights of Saint John fortified this city with castles, like the Castle of Monolithos and the Castle of Kritinia, as well as with citadels. The Palace of the Grand masters was built during this time.

During the First World War, Rhodes was conquered by Italy and many important sites and buildings, such as the National Theater, were built by the Italians. In 1947, the island became a part of the Greek state.

Some of the important events here are the Cultural Events, the Sound and Light Show in the Old Fort, the Medieval Rose Festival and the weekly folk dances.