Exploring Rhodes Old Town on Foot
The heart of Rhodes beats in its fascinating medieval Old Town. The island’s Old Town, one of the most ancient and well preserved medieval cities in Europe, is where history was made and continues to be made. Whoever wanders through its inspiring cobblestoned streets soon realise they are walking through a timeless living museum. The first to occupy the enchanting city were the Knights Hospitallers. The knights settled in the city in 1309 and literally built it from the ground up. During their time, the city thrived as culture awakened. In 1522 the famed Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent, took over the Old Town once the Knights were defeated in battle. The now UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with inspirational buildings dating back to the Knights and the Ottomans as well as the Italian, Roman and Hellenistic periods. We have put together a list of the top 10 most intriguing buildings avid tourists must visit while exploring the Old Town of Rhodes. Enjoy and remember, it’s a thrill to behold!
Palace of the Grand Masters also known as Kastello, crowns the top of the city as it lies on the highest point. The truly bravura 14th century palace was destroyed in an explosion in 1856 only to be rebuilt by the Italians in a grandiose fairytale manner in the 20th century, with the intention to be used as a holiday home for the Italian King Vittorio Emmanuele III. At present, the magnificent palace is home to a fascinating museum which showcases antiques and artefacts found in Kos by the Italians. The collection includes lavish mosaic floors dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman eras, ancient maps depicting the Old City, sculptures and other inspiring historic treasures.
Hora is one of the three main districts found in Rhodes Old City. The city is divided into three parts, the Knights’ Quarter (Collachium), the Jewish Quarter and the Turkish Quarter also known as Hora. Hora is home to bustling and lively streets boasting with cafes and stalls. Walking through the cobblestoned lanes one stumbles upon early Christian churches which were converted into mosques. Many other mosques were built from scratch including the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.
The pink-domed Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent was constructed by the Ottoman Empire in 1522 to celebrate their victory after defeating the Knights. The present mosque found in the heart of Hora, was rebuilt in its place using materials taken from the original mosque in 1808.
The paved Street of the Knights is encircled by a 600 metre-long wall used for fortification. Walking through the street one can help but feel as if transported to the 14th – 16th centuries, where the street was bustling with Inns of the Tongues. The Knights Hospitallers, Order of the Saint John of Jerusalem, were divided into various groups. These groups were known as the Tongues and each group had a separate meeting place, their inn, which dotted the Street of the Knights. Although the Street of the Knights has been remodelled over the passage of time, it is still considered as one of the most impressive examples of Gothic architecture and urbanism.
The Medieval City Walls were built by the Knights. The purpose the walls were built was to fortify and protect the city from invading enemies. The Knights built the 4kms long walls on Byzantine already existing Byzantine fortifications. The city was completed encircled and protected.
The marvellous Temple of Venus dates back to the 3rd century as suggested by the votive offering found surrounding the temple. The numerous ruins of the temple’s columns and other artefacts found here reflect Rhodes importance during the Hellenistic and medieval periods.
Municipal Museum of Modern Greek Art is home to one of the finest 20th-century Greek art collections. The collections include marvellous drawings, paintings, sculptures and significant documents created by the most famed Greek artists of the 20th century. The museum displays more than 1000 pieces of art in three different venues, two of which are found in the heart of Rhodes Old City.
There are many gates you can enter the Old City from, but the most fascinating gate is the Marine Gate, which dominates the Ippokratous Square with its towering fortress made up of two grandiose towers.
The 15th century building, once used as the Knight’s Hospital, is currently home to Rhodes Archaeological Museum. The impressive museum displays important findings excavated from the surrounding Dodecanese islands. Of special significance is the museum’s amphorae collection, especially the statue depicting the Aphrodite of Rhodes which was made from Parian marble and is said to date back more than 2000 years.
The city’s Jewish Quarter dates back to the 1st century AD. The Jewish Quarter is worth visiting as it is home to the Martiron Square, where you will find a moving monument in memory of the Rhodian Jews who sadly died in concentration camps during World War II.
Exploring the Old City of Rhodes is truly a time-transporting experience!