Erected in 1472 according to plans by Venetian sculptor and architect Giorgio da Sebenico – also known as Giorgio Orsini – the Castle of Kritinia, or Kastellos as the locals call it, is a stunning fortress erected to protect the village against Ottoman attacks.

Kastellos had a fortunate vantage point, affording 360-degree views of the Aegean Sea and the island. Due to the presence of the fortress on the coast, the village bore the name Kastelli until the liberation of the Dodecanese. The meaning of Kritinia of today translates into English as “New Crete” for the largest of Greece’s 6000 islands.

The Castle of Kritinia stands at 131 metres above sea level. It’s not hard to reach it, but the hike can be strenuous under the scorching summer sun and for people who are not in shape. It’s well worth the effort as it affords fantastic views of Kritinia, the sea, of Chalki Island, and some other islets close to Rhodes.

Read More

Read Less

The UNESCO-listed site known as the Medieval City of Rhodes is an absolute must-see destination when you vacation on our island. The Knights Hospitaller – officially the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem – planned the fortified Gothic city when they ruled Rhodes from 1309 to 1523. Their purpose was to strengthen Rhodes to withstand sieges and other warfare threats, which were imminent at the time.

Today, the well preserved Medieval City of Rhodes counts as one of the finest examples of urban Gothic architecture in the world. The main points of interest when you visit it include:

• The Street of the Knights (officially Ippoton), lined up by seats (or “inns” – of note, Inn of Auvergne) of the Knights Hospitaller of the order’s tongues (branches) from Italy, France, Spain, and Provence. Ippoton stretches from the citadel to the port. It offers a plethora of photo ops and superb examples of Medieval architecture.
• The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, locally known as the Kastello, the crown jewel on Ippoton Street, was the citadel of the Knights Hospitaller. It is a spectacular example of Gothic architecture, one of the best-preserved in Greece. The citadel dates from the 7th century, while the palace was completed in the 14th century. It boasts some 150 rooms, some of which are open to the public as part of the palace museum.
• The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes housed inside the former hospital of the Knights of Saint John relates the history of the city from the 9th century BC to Medieval times.

Most of the buildings erected by the Knights Hospitaller still stand, but the face of their Gothic city was somewhat altered during the Ottoman era when mosques and other buildings took replaced some of the older structures, especially in the Lower Town.

Read More

Read Less

One of the most interesting ancient sites of the island, the Acropolis of Rhodes is in the capital of the island, on Monte Smith. It is a large archaeological site, comprising several points of interest, most of them from the Hellenistic and the Roman periods.

There’s no entrance fee to visit the Acropolis of Rhodes, and you can access the site at any time and your pace. As you explore the archaeological park you will notice different structures: temples, a stoa, a theatre, and a stadium, among others.

The Italian School of Archaeology at Athens first unearthed the ruins in excavations that lasted from 1912 until 1945. The Greek Archaeological Service continued archaeological works at the site after World War II, reconstructing the Temple Pythian Apollo, which suffered extensive damage during the war. Digs continue at the site today.

The essential landmarks of the Acropolis of Rhodes are the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, the Temple Pythian Apollo, the Odeon, the Stadium, and the Artemision. The site is about three kilometres away from the centre of the city of Rhodes.

Read More

Read Less