The Knights of Saint John in Rhodes, Greece
The Knights of Saint John were initially formed in the 11th century. The knights first began as a religious order, looking after the wounded and sick crusaders. The knights came to Rhodes in 1309, where they stayed for 200 whole years. During their reign in Rhodes, the Ottoman Empire attempted to conquer the island numerous times. In an attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire from capturing the island, the Knights of Saint John formed a military order as well.
Over these 200 years, the Knights built impressive fortifications, palaces, bridges, castles of which many still stand today, reminding all visitors of the island’s glorious past. Two of the most impressive landmarks that existed from the time of the Knights are the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Hospital of the Knights, which houses the island’s Archaeological Museum.
The Palace of the Grand Masters is nestles at the end of the Street of the Knights. The palace is a massive and dominating castle that is surrounded by three towering walls. The Knights of Saint John built the Palace of the Grand Masters over the site of a previous Byzantine fortress. The Knights built the squared palace, encircling a massive internal courtyard. After the Knights left the island, the Italians reconstructed the Palace of the Grand Masters in the 1930s. King Emmanuel III used the palace as a holiday residence. The Palace was also inhabited by Mussolini.
Besides its fabulous mosaic floors, antiques and other historic treasures visitors enjoy during their visit, most marvel at the sheer size of the palace as it consists of more than 150 rooms.
As aforementioned, the Knights of Saint John began as a religious order taking care of the sick and wounded. For this reason they constructed a hospital which was completed in 1489. The Hospital of the Knights overlooks a marvellous scented garden.
Currently, the Hospital of the Knights houses the island’s Archaeological Museum which showcases numerous ancient artefacts excavated from archaeological sites in Corfu. The exhibition includes funerary stele, urns as well as marble statues. The most impressive attractions found at the museum are the ancient mosaic floors as well as a white marbled-figurine, depicting Aphrodite of Rhodes. The figurine is of a naked woman who is bending down while drying her hands with her fingers. The impressive artefact of Aphrodite dated back to the 1st century.