Old town of Rhodes. Rhodes: interesting facts about the medieval city of Rhodes old town map
Sights of the City of Rhodes. The most important and interesting sights of the City of Rhodes - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.
- Tours for May to Greece
- Last minute tours to Greece
All All Architecture Places for walking Museums Entertainment Religion
The most famous sights of Rhodes are associated mainly with the history of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, who owned the island for more than two centuries. Must-sees include the Palace of the Grand Masters (15th century), the medieval Street of the Knights in the Old Town, as well as the system of city fortifications with perfectly preserved walls that surround it and numerous gates and towers.
Another attraction of Rhodes that cannot be missed is the Acropolis, which dates back to the 5th-3rd centuries BC. e. It is located not exactly in Rhodes, but about 3 km from the city. Here you can see the partially restored temple of Apollo, a stadium and a small theater, as well as many unrestored buildings for various purposes. The Acropolis is located on the territory big park Monte Smith.
New city Rhodes actually cannot be called so new: it “begins” in the 16th century. It's just very different from the medieval one.
The lion's share of Rhodes's tourist attractions is located in the Old Town, and it is here that attracts tourists the most. No wonder: medieval Rhodes is considered one of the best preserved urban centers in Europe. The heritage of antiquity, Byzantine and Ottoman times has been preserved and mixed here, creating a unique atmosphere.
The Municipal Garden of Rhodes is located on the northernmost edge of the Old Town and its sound and light show is one of the most popular tourist entertainment. It is the only one of its kind in Greece: the show combines theatrical performance, light and sound, and it is not only purely entertaining, but also educational. Ancient myths and legends are intertwined here with stories of the most dramatic moments in the history of the island.
Meanwhile, the New City of Rhodes actually cannot be called so new: it “begins” in the 16th century. It's just very different from the medieval one. In the Upper New Town you can find a lot of interesting things, including examples of the “neo-imperial” architectural style (such as the prefecture building). In addition, the city theater of Rhodes is located here; the beautiful Murat Reis Mosque, built in 1523 and one of the oldest on the island; a picturesque Turkish cemetery; Franciscan Church of Sancta Maria (Our Lady of Victoria); Museum of Modern Greek Art and Aquarium.
- Where to stay: In a variety of hotels - beach and city - the capital of the island and its main resort, the city of Rhodes: overlooking the picturesque coastline or ancient attractions. Its suburb of Kolymbia is suitable for lovers of respectable holidays and connoisseurs of comfort. Lindos, in addition to its developed recreation infrastructure, will delight you with a hospitable “Greek” atmosphere. Faliraki hotels are completely modern and comfortable, located on the “golden” beach.
In the last article, I already told you in general, but in this article we will talk about the most interesting sights of Rhodes.
I'll show you cool places on the island, its incredibly beautiful bays, beaches, observation decks, preserved medieval towns, monuments ancient civilization, and even places of power.
So, if you are going to spend your holidays in Greece, then this article about the sights of Rhodes with all the marks on the map is just for you :)
So, let's go!
The city of Rhodes, which bears the same name as the island, is also the capital, and was built by the Knights Hospitaller. The streets here are lined with cobblestones, old houses, palaces and churches, a fortress and gates have been preserved.
Myself Old town included in the list of World cultural heritage. By the way, the Rhodes Fortress is the longest in Europe - 4 km, and to get to the city center you need to go through 11 fortress gates. On the lawns along the wall you can see cannonballs; they reached the fortress, made potholes, but did not pierce it through.
We really enjoyed walking around the Old Town, it is somehow completely atypical for old Europe, more reminiscent of an eastern town, with winding labyrinths of streets. We have not been to Turkey, but they say it is very similar to a Turkish town with arrows of minarets and Turkish houses with traditional balconies.
The Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent is one of the few buildings from the Turkish period that has survived to this day.
And the most photographed objects in the town are the Street of Knights
and the Palace of the Grand Masters.
Just outside the gates of the Old Town is also the pleasant port of Mandraki,
with the Italian Church of the Annunciation, with very beautiful interiors, atypical for Greek churches.
We lived only 5 km from the town, one day, during a morning jog along the sea, I just reached the port) Here, at the entrance to the harbor, there is an ancient lighthouse and 2 symbols of the city - the Rhodian deer and the doe, they stand on columns opposite each other friend, and a little further - medieval mills.
It’s worth coming to the town of Rhodes even just to watch the sunset or dine in one of the many restaurants,
and then, of course, stroll along its streets, watch local residents.
Local residents have a tradition - every evening they set up chairs next to the house and just sit, look at passers-by or gossip about something with their neighbors.
Ancient Kamiros
From the ancient town of Kamiros (9th century BC) only the ruins of tiny houses, temples and the semblance of streets and squares remain; the palaces are only half restored.
If you have a wild imagination, then you can safely go to Ancient Kamiros to wander among the ruins, vividly imagining how the ancient Greeks once lived here.
Well, we found a couple of good marine species here, and for general acquaintance we also took a short walk among the ruins :) 
Mount Tsambika in Rhodes is sacred; at its top there is a monastery of the same name, to which a staircase of 307 steps leads. This is a pilgrimage path that especially believers overcome on their knees.
The church has its own legend - once upon a time, here on the top of a hill the Greeks discovered a miraculous icon of the Holy Mother of God, which belonged to the Church of Cyprus, and no matter how much they tried to return the icon to its place, it always returned here. As a result, a small church was built for the icon.
And the miracle of the icon is due to the fact that even childless couples trying in vain to have a child, visiting this place, were sure to receive a long-awaited gift. Now this miraculous icon is kept in the monastery at the foot, but the ritual of climbing the hill and lighting a candle has still been preserved.
Well, from the top of the hill there is a stunning view of the bay and the long sandy beach Tsambika.
Petaloudes Valley or Butterfly Valley
The Valley of the Butterflies is a pleasant park in a narrow gorge, with numerous paths, bridges, and moss-covered steps, which are especially good to walk on in the sultry heat, hiding under the shade of storax trees.
In the summer there is a unique opportunity to see in one place tens of thousands of bear butterflies, which flock here every year to the smell of fragrant resin and hang in clusters on the stones
and trees.
I can’t say that butterflies are beauties, you won’t even notice them right away, they are masters of camouflage 🙂 and what is rather striking is their number, the very fact of such a huge accumulation in one place. There are several waterfalls and streams in the park, the breath is fresh, in general, you can safely spend half an hour, or even an hour, for a walk along the gorge!
Mount Filerimos
A path along a cypress alley with numerous bas-reliefs, along which you can climb highest point the mountain, topped with a huge 17-meter cross (which was also once climbable), was nicknamed “The Way of Golgotha”, because the distance is equal to what Jesus walked while carrying his cross.
The place reminded us of a mountain with a cross :)
Don’t repeat our mistake - if there is haze in the sky, then you should postpone your visit until the evening, especially since there should be a stunning view of the sunset from this mountain.
Well, on a clear day with good visibility you can clearly see 2 at once greek cities– resort Ixia and ancient Ialyssos. We were there during the day, so, alas, we did not experience the delight of seeing the subtle outlines of the cities.
But as a bonus, we had a blast chasing peacocks, there are tons of them here, and yes, we were in the mating season, when they fluff their tails :)
Well, of course, lovers of ruins will appreciate the preserved ancient ruins of the ancient town of Ialisa, with the ruins of the temple of Zeus and Athena, as well as knightly castles with frescoes and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Lindos
Stunning snow white ancient town Lindos is considered typical Greek,
and definitely a must visit!
It is difficult to see as many tourists as here in any other place in Rhodes; this is a very popular place among both travelers and locals.
This ancient town at the foot of the hill dates back to the 6th century BC. e.,
and has survived to this day,
It’s nice to stroll here as well as through the narrow colorful streets of the city,
and climb to the ancient Acropolis and the walls of the knight's castle, from where a stunning view of the heart-shaped lagoon with azure water opens - St. Paul's Bay.
This is perhaps the most beautiful bay on the island; according to legend, the Apostle Paul stopped here on his way to Jerusalem, which is why the bay is named after him. The small church in this bay is extremely popular for wedding ceremonies.
And you can climb the hill with the Acropolis either on foot or on donkeys; we preferred the first option, at the same time we looked closely at the handicrafts of local craftswomen.
I don’t really like ruins, but if they are located somewhere on a mountain, then we definitely go up there.
Because the views from the hill are so breathtaking!
If there is no haze, then you can see not only the city at the foot and the neighboring sandy beach with a bay, where you just want to refresh yourself, but also endless expanses, including St. Peter’s Bay and the neighboring islands.
After a walk along the Acropolis (by the way, it is the second most important after Athens),
we went downstairs and had lunch in the old town in one of the view taverns, I don’t even remember what I liked more – the view and atmosphere of the restaurant or the fresh seafood in it :)
In this place there really are 7 springs, small streams that flow from underground and form a lake. Of interest to tourists, as well as to us, is another object in the neighborhood - a dark narrow tunnel, which actually leads to this very lake.
Every second tourist wants to tickle their nerves and walk through the tunnel. The fact is that the tunnel is completely dark, and you need to walk through it barefoot, finding yourself ankle-deep in cold water; using phones and flashlights is not recommended, so as not to disturb the atmosphere and the mysteries of the legend.
There are 2 beliefs associated with the tunnel, by walking through which you can choose to either become 10 years younger or get rid of 7 sins. We got through it too - I don’t know, maybe we were rejuvenated :)
Well, behind the tunnel, if you go a little to the side along nature trail, you can see a beautiful artificial waterfall.
Kallithea Springs (Kallithea Baths)
Once upon a time in ancient times there were healing springs here,
now it's just nice natural complex with the former name Kallithea Springs,
where you can swim in crystal clear water, sunbathe on sun loungers and have a snack in a cafe.
In general, the nature in the area is simply amazing, especially the sea cliffs.
The ancient marble pavilions have been restored, so you can hide from the hot sun in their shade and coolness.
Anthony Quinn Cove
This bay is named after a real person - the famous actor of the last century, writer and artist Anthony Quinn. The film “The Guns of the Island of Navarone” with his participation was filmed in the bay, but the Greeks themselves fell in love with Anthony Quinn for the film masterpiece “Zorba the Greek,” in which the actor performed a Greek dance, and the melody from which became a hit. By the way, the film “Zorba the Greek” won an Oscar.
At the end of filming, the actor rented a house in picturesque bay, and then bought it to stay and live here for long time. The government was very pleased with the presence of the star, or rather, the effect that his presence had - the bay began to attract tourists/fans of the actor like a magnet, so it was decided to give the bay the name of the actor.
I’m sure that even if Anthony Quinn didn’t live in this bay, and it would have been called something else, tourists would still choose this place! Firstly, the bay itself, framed by bizarre rocks, like natural place- very picturesque, the water changes its color from turquoise to sapphire throughout the day, secondly, it’s easy to get here - public transport runs to the nearest resort towns, from which you can already walk to the bay.
Now Anthony Quinn Bay is one of the most beautiful and pleasant beaches on the island for relaxation - the clearest water, the bay is protected from waves and wind, there are sun loungers, umbrellas, showers and a cafe.
Ostrich farm
There is a place in Rhodes that is definitely worth a visit, especially if you are vacationing on the island with children - this is an ostrich farm
and a mini zoo next to it.
At the entrance you can buy bags of corn grains and feed the ostriches - this is the main entertainment. At the same time, only 2-3 of the calmest males are allocated for feeding, who eat from their hands carefully, while females are not allowed near tourists at all, because they often behave inappropriately)
On the farm, ostriches are housed in families - one male and 2-3 females live in a pen. Males are quite aggressive and if you place two adult males with a female, they will fight for their status to the last, until one of them dies. But in general, ostriches, it turns out, live quite a long time, about 60-70 years.
Ostriches are raised for meat and to hatch eggs. They lay eggs at the age of 2 to 35 years, and incubate each for about 40 days, and use young individuals for meat, up to 1 year.
One ostrich egg weighs about 2 kg, enough for about 10 omelettes. There is also a restaurant at the farm where you can try omelettes, steaks and cutlets made from ostrich meat. There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy all sorts of crafts made from shells, and also, on the farm you can see the world’s largest rosary, also made from eggs, of course, they are under glass)
Vineyards
Most of the vineyards of Rhodes are located around Mount Attaviros, at altitudes reaching 800 m. The white Athyri variety is grown in the mountains, and the red Mandidarya variety (Amoriano) is cultivated in the flat areas.
Both vineyards can be visited to taste/buy various wines as a gift, or simply to have lunch overlooking the endless grape fields.
In summer, the grapes are still unripe, so we weren’t able to eat fresh fruits from the bush :)
If you see some kind of local production, be it a soap factory, a honey farm or a ceramic workshop, don’t be shy, you can stop by, look and ask the craftsmen everywhere.
The Greeks are friendly enough, they will bite you)) 
As a rule, all workshops and farms have their own shop where you can buy products from their craft. 
Prasonissi
There is another attraction of Rhodes on the island, which we, alas, did not get to, is called “the kiss of two seas.” Yes, that’s right, because when you come here, you can swim in two seas at once - the Aegean and Mediterranean.
This place is located on the very southern cape Rhodes, and the seas are separated by a huge sand spit. The place was chosen by kiters and surfers. I really love places like this!
So, for us, this is at least one significant reason to return to the island of Rhodes someday.
In conclusion
Excellent beaches, developed infrastructure, extensive excursion program, most picturesque places islands - all this makes Rhodes one of the most popular tourist destinations Greece.
You can travel around Rhodes either by public transport, or by rented car or motorbike, the choice is yours.
The latest options will undoubtedly make your vacation more varied and mobile. We saw all the places described in the article while traveling by car; the roads and traffic on the island are normal. Along the way, we discovered and visited several interesting places that we had not originally planned to visit :)
Rent a car in Rhodes
We looked for a rental car in several places: firstly, we asked on the spot (since we didn’t need a car on the first day of arrival, we didn’t book in advance, although we usually do just that), but either there was nothing available, or the prices were higher, or insurance conditions were worse.
We have also made a selection good hotels in different price categories close to great beaches.
A selection of hotels in Rhodes
| Budget | good | Luxurious |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
- Sentido Port Royal
- Kolymbia Sun
View all hotel options in Rhodes
You can rent accommodation in Rhodes from locals using the Airbnb website .
Many useful information about Greece - where to go, what to do, what to see, etc. can be found on the website Greek National Tourism Organization.
Cheap flights to Rhodes
Have you been to Greece or specifically Rhodes? Did you like the island? If you managed to visit Rhodes where we haven’t been, write in the comments, thanks to you, the list of Rhodes attractions will be even more complete!
Rhodes as a city is the result of the merger of three cities, which at the same time were separate independent states: Kamira, Ialisa and Linda. This merger occurred in 408 BC. – this date officially marks the beginning of existence ancient city Rhodes. The city is located in the very north of the island, since this is where the most convenient place to control sea routes.
Throughout the history of its existence, Rhodes has changed several “owners”, changed its religion from the ancient paganism of Greece to Byzantine Orthodoxy, and then to Christianity, but after the conquest by the Turks - to Islam. Each new “master” of Rhodes left a mark on the culture, architecture and customs of the local residents. All these traces can be seen by visiting the Old Town of Rhodes.
The Old Town of Rhodes - the history of its origin and development
Antiquity left behind the very structure of the Old City - strict right angles and wide streets, built in accordance with the Hippodamian urban planning system, the remains of temples and many legends. During the reign of Byzantium over Rhodes, in the period from the 4th century AD. until 1309 Rhodes was fortified as a fortress and naval base, many were lined up Orthodox churches. In 1309 the island became the center of the Order of St. John. This was the heyday of Rhodes.
The city itself was changed in accordance with the general style of European cities of the Middle Ages, Gothic features appeared in it. After a siege by the Turks in 1480 and a strong earthquake in 1481, the city was rebuilt. At the beginning of the 16th century, all fortifications were strengthened, but despite this, in 1522 the city was captured by the Turks, as a result of which the Greek population was evicted outside the fortifications. Thus the New City of Rhodes was founded. The appearance of the Old Town in Rhodes has changed little; some innovations have appeared only in Christian churches, which were rebuilt as mosques. The final appearance of the Old Town of Rhodes was given to the Italians, who seized power in these places already in 1912.
Main attractions of the Old Town
The old town in Rhodes is certainly impressive. The Old Town begins with the gate. There are eleven of them in the city, so the choice of which gate to start your journey through historical center Rhodes is the prerogative of the tourist himself. In general, even the fortress walls of the fortress are a separate and very long story, to which you need to devote at least one day (the walls are the longest in Europe - 14.5 km). It is especially interesting to explore the Old Town in the early morning or in the evening, at sunset. In these wonderful moments, history seems to come to life before our eyes, and there is a feeling of traveling through time.
The most important attraction of the Old Town is the Rhodes Fortress itself, and its pearl is the Palace of the Grand Masters, a tour of which is included in every tourist program. The main street - Hippoton or the Street of Knights, goes from the Palace to the Knights' Hospital (where the Archaeological Museum is now located), there are medieval palaces and representative offices different countries. It is also worth walking through the streets of Socrates and Aristotle, they retain the flavor of the Middle Ages (you can buy souvenirs here). You can see the ruins of what was once the largest catholic church on the island - the Church of the Virgin Chora, the Church of St. Panteleimon (14th century), as well as the magnificent mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent (built in 1808), and also visit the Clock Tower. It is also worth wandering through the colorful residential areas of the Old Town, where the spirit of old times is still preserved.
Old Town in Rhodes (Rhodes City, Greece) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
- Tours for May to Greece
- Last minute tours to Greece
Old, medieval Rhodes is cultural site of global significance. It is like an open-air museum: every street, square or building is connected with some story about ancient times. It is one of the best preserved medieval walled cities in Europe.
The walls and gates of Rhodes are a topic for a separate story. And if you are looking for a starting point for exploring the Old City, you can start from Symi Square in front of the Freedom Gate, where the ruins of the ancient Temple of Aphrodite are located (a very popular, although very poorly preserved attraction). From Symi Square you can very quickly reach the famous Street of the Knights (Ipoton), which is located in the so-called Upper Old Town. It is the most popular among tourists among all the ancient streets. Its length is 600 m, and this is where the Hospitallers lived and worked in the past. The landscape of the street is very characteristic: it is straight, and the buildings on the sides are tall and often with almost solid walls, which creates a rather harsh impression. The street was carefully restored by the Italians in 1913-1916.
If you stay in the part of the Old Town that is closer to the sea and move south, you can walk to Hippocrates Square. In its center stands an ornamental fountain, which, together with the majestic staircase in the southwestern part, is the only reminder of the Castellania, which the Hospitallers built here in the 14th century. The square is very popular among tourists and locals, as there are numerous bars, cafes and eateries with outdoor terraces along the entire perimeter. In addition, there are many historical buildings here: for example, the Castellania library in the Epavlis mansion. Also from the square begins Socrates Street, the most popular shopping street on the island.
You can get to Hippocrates Square directly by entering the Old Town through the Sea Gate from the Trade Harbor.
Next to Hippocrates Square is the Square of Jewish Martyrs. It has a second unofficial name - Seahorse Square - because of the corresponding fountain. A memorial to the victims of the Holocaust is erected in the square in memory of more than 1,600 Jews of Rhodes who were deported to Auschwitz (only 151 of them survived).
Old town in Rhodes
If you walk east from the Square of the Jewish Martyrs, following the curve of the harbor, you can reach the Church of Our Lady of Burgh. It stands on the easternmost border of the Old City, in the Jewish Quarter. The Gothic church was built in the 14th century and is poorly preserved, but it is the oldest building of the Hospitaller era, not counting the city fortifications.
The old town of Rhodes is not just a tourist attraction: it is quite residential, with a population of approximately 6,000 people.
Also located in the Old Town are the Municipal Baths (aka Turkish Baths). The Byzantine building, built in the 17th century, stands on Arionos Square. This is one of the few places in Greece where you can enjoy a hammam. Visiting the baths is not expensive at all, and many tourists come here, but you need to keep in mind that the baths are only open half the days of the week.
Practical information
If we consider the city of Rhodes as a peninsula, then the Old Town occupies its eastern part: this is everything that is beyond the medieval walls, and almost up to the three city harbors.
Even though interesting places scattered throughout Rhodes, I give the palm among its attractions, without a shadow of a doubt, to the old part of the capital of the island. If the city as a whole has become for me a kind of quintessence of everything that has been collected on this amazing island, then its old part clearly claims to be gemstone in a golden ring whose name is Rhodes.
The old town, photos of which can most often be found on the covers of guidebooks around the island, is picturesque and in many ways unique place, which has preserved the appearance and spirit of a real medieval port, where peoples, cultures and religions intersect. Since the city of Rhodes was founded back in 408 BC, today different eras intersect behind its walls - from antiquity to the 20th century.
And despite the fact that the old part of Rhodes is a real museum city, ordinary people still live in it: looking at their modest houses with unlocked doors and not fully drawn curtains, you think that they feel quite comfortable in the epicenter cultural life of the city.
For those who come to Rhodes as a guest, a visit to the Old Town is an opportunity to touch history and make many personal discoveries, since even with a detailed guide map, you can explore its streets, if not endlessly, then for a very long time.
How to get to the Old Town
To get to the Old Town, first of all, you should buy a ticket to the city of Rhodes, the cost of which, depending on where you are staying, ranges from 1.1 to 9 euros. The highest cost of tickets to the capital is from Cape Prasonisi, since you will have to travel across the entire island. Buses from major settlements depart to Rhodes approximately once an hour, and tickets can be bought either at special kiosks at the bus stop or simply from the driver - there is no difference in cost, but at the kiosks you can immediately buy a return ticket. To get to the Old Town, the easiest way is to go to the final stop, which is located in the area and is adjacent to the city walls.
If you are already staying in the capital, then you can easily get to the Old Town on your own two feet. To avoid going astray, take a map of the island's capital from the hotel, and if this is not provided, simply follow the signs “Old Town”. Entrance to the territory of the Old Town is free.
Before you go exploring Old Rhodes, I recommend that you go to the kiosk located near the northern wall tourist information and take another map here absolutely free of charge - a detailed plan on which each object of the Old Town is highlighted in a certain color depending on what era it belongs to. And even if you prefer to determine the age of a building yourself, such a map will definitely help you not to get lost in the web of narrow streets, sometimes very winding.
There is another way to get to know the old part of Rhodes - expensive and exotic. Today, tourists have the opportunity to take an hour-long flight in a small plane over the island, and its route is designed in such a way as to make a turn just above the Old Town towards the end. To do this you will have to go to Diagoras airport. However, such a pleasure will cost 500 euros and is unlikely to replace a full visit to the historical part of Rhodes.
A little history
Before talking about the main monuments of the Old Town, I think it is necessary to conduct a short historical educational program.
The city of Rhodes, as mentioned above, was founded by the ancient Greeks in 408 BC. At the same time, the city initially had a special significance, becoming the capital of the island and uniting the once independent poleis, Kamiros and Ialyssos.
Since the ancient Greeks mostly had stone temples, it is their remains today that remind us of the ancient past of the city of Rhodes. Unfortunately, no traces of the famous Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world - have been preserved in the city, so we can only guess about its appearance.
After this, the island was successively under the rule of the Romans and the Byzantines who replaced them. In those days, the capital of the island was surrounded by powerful walls, some of which have survived to this day. During the Byzantine period the island was attacked repeatedly until it was finally captured by the Genoese in 1248 and the weak Byzantium was forced to accept the loss of Rhodes.
One of the most exciting moments in the island's history came in 1306, when the Genoese sold it to the Knights of the Order of St. John, also known as the Hospitallers. Over more than two centuries of stay on the island, the Johannites turned it into a real fortress, the core of which was the city of Rhodes. It was at this time that the city was surrounded by new powerful walls, making the capital of the island almost impregnable.
Of course, the Turkish Sultan was not at all happy with the fact that the base of Christian warrior monks - and the Hospitallers, like the Templars, had the status of a spiritual brotherhood at that time - was located in close proximity to his borders. This is largely why, at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries, the Ottoman Empire, which was at the peak of its power, threw all its strength into driving the knights off the island. This succeeded only on the second attempt, after a six-month siege, and even then as a result of betrayal. Prior to this, the fortress garrison, consisting of 7 thousand men-at-arms, successfully repelled the attacks of the 100 thousand strong Turkish army.
The knights, after being expelled from the island, soon settled in Malta, and the time of Turkish rule began in Rhodes. It is from this period that numerous mosques in the Old City date back to this period, some of which are still in operation. In addition, the Turks converted Christian churches into mosques - such examples can also be found in Rhodes.
The biggest loss to the Old Town during the Ottoman period was the destruction of the Palace of the Grand Masters, which occurred due to the explosion of a gunpowder magazine in 1856.
For 390 long years the island was under the rule of the Turks, until in 1912 the Italians drove the weakening Ottoman Empire out of Rhodes. It is to the latter that today's Rhodes owes much of the fact that seemingly lost monuments of previous eras literally rose from the ashes. In particular, in the 1930s, at the insistence of Benito Mussolini, the Palace of the Grand Masters was restored.
Only in 1948 the island again became part of Greece.
Walls of old Rhodes
The first place to get acquainted with the old part of Rhodes is the impressive city walls. Moreover, if the city is protected from the sea by one row of walls, then on the land border there are three rows at once. Today tourists can walk along the walls themselves and along the bottom of the moat between them. And even now, walking along the moat, you can find narrow dark passages in the walls through which it is easy to get into the city. Who knows, perhaps it was through them that scouts and saboteurs made forays when the Rhodes fortress was under siege.
Despite the fact that there are nine entrances to the Old Town, the ones that deserve special attention, first of all, are the Amboise Gate and the Sea Gate. The first are notable for the fact that directly behind them is a zahab or stone bag. There are similar elements in many fortresses and they were used as a trap: at the height of the siege, the outer gates suddenly opened, allowing part of the besiegers to get inside, where the inner gates stood in their way, at which time the outer entrance was closed again, and the trapped soldiers were methodically shot with bows.
The Sea Gate is perhaps the most beautiful of the entrances to Old Rhodes. The massive towers are made in the same manner as the Neapolitan fortress Castle Nuovo, as well as the city gate Torres De Cuart in Valencia, Spain. Above the entrance are depicted the Virgin and Child, the Apostle Peter, and the patron saint of the Hospitaller Order, St. John.
Monuments of antiquity
The oldest objects in the old part of Rhodes date back to the ancient Greek period of the island's history. Unfortunately, now they are in a deplorable state: even relatively well, so to speak, the preserved temple of Aphrodite is only a foundation and structural details scattered here and there.
Near St. Catherine's Gate, traces of ancient fortifications have been preserved, and not far from the Saint's Tower you can see the remains of a Roman shipyard.
Monuments of the Byzantine period
Unfortunately, they were preserved little better than the ancient Greek monuments, since, during the reign of Byzantium, which was weakening every year, Rhodes was repeatedly attacked and ruined. First of all, these are small Orthodox churches, many of which only ruins remain. Those that have survived to this day owe this, oddly enough, to the Turks, who converted Christian churches into mosques. In this sense, the Church of St. Spyridon, which has an Ottoman minaret, is noteworthy.
In addition, the remains of walls and several towers, located in the northeastern part of the Old Town, almost directly outside the walls of the knightly period, have survived to this day. An interesting fact: the Byzantine fortifications look more crude and simple than the fortifications of the period of the Hospitallers' reign, which evoke associations with films in the fantasy genre.
Monuments of the knightly period
In addition to the already mentioned city walls, which you are unlikely to miss, most of the knightly monuments are concentrated along Hippoton Street, also known as the Street of Knights.
At its western end is the former headquarters of the order - the Palace of the Grand Masters. The knights approached the construction of the building with all responsibility, since the palace is a real mini-fortress, within which they can continue to hold the defense if the enemy breaks through the walls of the city. Today the palace houses a museum, the exhibits of which date back to both the ancient past of the city and the island, and to the times of the Hospitallers.
At the eastern end of the street is the building of the order's hospital from the 14th century. The fact is that, in addition to participating in hostilities, the Knights of St. John built hospitals for pilgrims to the Holy Land and actively disseminated the achievements of Arab medicine among yesterday’s barbarians who inhabited Europe. 
Today the hospital building houses the Rhodes Archaeological Museum. The most significant exhibits are the statue of Aphrodite and the head of the island's patron god Helios. Price entrance ticket for adults is 6 euros.
Monuments of the Ottoman period
Together with traces of the dominance of the knights, it is the architecture of the Ottomans that largely determines the appearance of the Old City. From behind the walls rise the minarets of mosques, the main and most beautiful of which is the Suleiman Mosque. Named in honor of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, under whom the Turks occupied Rhodes with great difficulty in 1522, it was built on the site of the Church of the Apostles destroyed by the Ottomans.
Tourists are able to look down at it from the nearby clock tower, also built during the period of the Ottoman Empire. Login to observation deck costs 5 euros, and this price includes admission to a small museum, as well as a free drink in the bar located next to the tower.
Among other Turkish monuments, it is worth highlighting the impressive size of the Mustafa Mosque, which, due to the absence of a minaret, can easily be confused with a civilian building; the building of Turkish baths located next to it on Arionos Square; as well as the current Ibrahim Pasha Mosque.
However, the Ottoman heritage of old Rhodes is not limited to this - it’s just that if you set out to give a detailed description of each of the monuments, you will have to write a separate book.
Where to eat and relax
There are also restaurants in the Old Town. But I don’t think it’s advisable to have a full meal there. The thing is that a meal in the Old Town will cost 20-30 percent more than in any establishment located a couple of blocks from the historical part of Rhodes, that is, the average bill for two with alcohol will be 40-50 euros. At the same time, the serving size is the same at best. Let’s add here the slower service, because there are always plenty of people wanting to eat here, and the lack of traditional restaurant compliments like tzatziki sauce, local moonshine or just sliced watermelon, and we can conclude that it’s not worth satisfying your hunger in Old Rhodes unless absolutely necessary.
But if you want to drink a cocktail or smoke a hookah in the fresh air with a view of the Ottoman mosque or ancient ruins, then in Rhodes you can do this, perhaps, only in the Old Town. The cost of a cocktail in such bars ranges from 4-5 euros, a hookah - from 5-6 euros.
Where to buy souvenirs in the Old Town
After everything I saw, heard, touched and tasted, I, like many who visited the old part of Rhodes, had a desire to take away something as a souvenir. For this purpose, I went to Socrates Street, which runs parallel to Hippoton.
It is on it, as well as on the adjacent streets, that the bulk of the souvenir shops in the Old Town are located.
As for the souvenirs themselves, in addition to banal magnets, pens and key rings, the cost of which starts from 1 euro, you can bring home something more useful in a practical sense.
For example, these could be natural sponges, which are mined on the island of Symi, which, together with Rhodes, is part of the Dodecanese archipelago. The cost of a sponge starts from 10 euros.
In addition, one cannot help but mention the T-shirts, since the imagination of their creators went a little further than banal inscriptions in the spirit of “I love Greece.” In particular, one cannot fail to note the very high-quality and creative prints on the theme of crusading knights, as well as those inspired by the famous 2006 film “300”.
By the way, you can and should bargain in the shops of the Old Town. Of course, this is not a 100% guarantee of receiving a discount, but very often the seller is willing to give up 5 to 20 percent of the original price.
If we try to sum up our walk through the Old City, then for me personally it is a unique example of how different, sometimes hostile cultures, religions and eras coexist peacefully in one place. Here, fussy guides and curious tourists coexist peacefully with leisurely local residents, many of whom were born and raised within the walls of Old Rhodes. And although in different parts of Europe and the world they have been preserved ancient cities, we can rightfully say that Rhodes is the only one.
