Old Rhodes Town, Greece

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Rhodes: A Timeless Journey Through History and Culture

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This page was updated at 2:37am on Dec 04, 2024.

Welcome to Rhodes: The Island of Knights and Legends

Everyone's favorite medieval walled city, Rhodes, is a destination where history and modernity collide. The city consists of two distinct sections: the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the bustling New Town that surrounds it.

During our gulet cruises, we typically spend a day or two in the harbor, giving our guests the freedom to explore this enchanting destination at their leisure.

Old Rhodes Town: A Living Museum

Situated on the northeastern tip of the island, Rhodes Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Surrounded by formidable stone walls, its fortress-like buildings, cobblestone alleys, and atmospheric squares invite you to step back in time.

Key landmarks include:

  • The Palace of the Grand Master – now a museum, the palace was originally built as a Byzantine fortress (late 7th century AD) and later converted into a residence and administrative offices for the Grand Master of the Knights of the Order of St. John (early 14th century AD)
  • The Street of Knights – the wide cobblestoned street was originally lined with inns to house soldiers in the Order of the Knights, and is now home to many countries' consulate offices.
  • The Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent – this striking pink and white mosque is located at the top of the hill on shop-lined Sokratous Street
  • The Museum Square which includes:
    • Hospital of the Knights – now an archaeological museum
    • The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Castle was built as an orthodox cathedral in Byzantine times – now the Byzantine Museum
    • Mandráki Harbour – nowadays, two bronze deer statues oversee the entrance to the harbour, but the harbour mouth was originally protected by the Colossus of Rhodes (304-226 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
    • Rodíni Park where prominent Greeks and Romans, including Julius Caesar, Cato the Younger, Cicero, Pompey, Brutus, Cassius and Marc Anthony, studied at the famous School of Rhetoric.

Spend your day exploring artisan boutiques, savoring local delicacies, and wandering through the maze of history.

Rhodes Through the Ages

Antiquity: A Center of Civilization

Inhabited since 4000 BC, Rhodes became a major maritime and cultural hub in antiquity. The ancient city was meticulously planned by Hippodamus of Miletus, boasting sophisticated infrastructure that included water and sewage systems.

The city’s reputation for excellence in philosophy, science, and the arts made it a magnet for scholars and traders alike.

Knights’ Period: The Age of Fortifications

From 1308 to 1522 AD, the Knights Hospitallers established Rhodes as their base. The city thrived under their rule, with grand fortifications, palaces, and churches built to withstand invasions.

Even today, their legacy defines much of Rhodes Old Town’s iconic medieval aesthetic.

Ottoman and Italian Influence

The Ottoman Turks brought mosques, baths, and cultural diversity to Rhodes, while the Italians restored many medieval structures in the 20th century. Their renovations revived the Knights' architectural legacy, shaping the Old Town we admire today.

Landmarks You Can't Miss

Rhodes is rich in historical and cultural treasures. Highlights outside of the city walls include:

  • Gate of Freedom: The main entrance to the walled city.
  • Acropolis of Rhodes: A stunning hilltop site with ancient temples and a Hellenistic stadium.
  • Mandráki Harbour: Once home to the Colossus of Rhodes, this picturesque harbor is now adorned with deer statues and windmills.
  • Rodíni Park: A serene escape where historical figures like Julius Caesar studied rhetoric.

Every corner of Rhodes tells a story, making it a paradise for history buffs and curious travelers alike.

Rhodes Old Town – A Visual Journey Through History

Explore the beauty of Rhodes Old Town through our curated photo gallery. From the iconic Street of the Knights to the vibrant Mandráki Harbour, immerse yourself in the sights that make this medieval city unforgettable.

Click on any image to expand.

Two cats sitting in an cobblestoned alleyway in Old Rhodes Towns
The front entrance to the Muslim Library in Old Rhodes Town
Tourists walking through the archway that makes up part of the DAmboise Gate into the medieval walled city of Rhodes
An antique cannon poking out of a square opening in a stone wall
Tourists milling around the twin towers at the entrance to the Palace of the Grand Masters
Main entrance to Rhodes Palace of the Grand Masters
Details of the architecture of the round towers at the entrance to the Palace of the Grand Masters
Tourists shopping on a cobblestone street in front of an impressive pink mosque
Details of the top section of the clock tower in Rhodes
Close up of a marble statue on display in the Palace of the Grand Masters
Suit of armour with large axe-like weapon silhouetted against a cloudless sky
Votsaloto mosaics (made with small white and dark blue pebbles) used to decorate a fountain and walkway with a nautical theme
Lush flower garden outside the walls of the Palace of the Grand Masters
View of the hotels lining the beach on northern end of Rhodes as seen from the top of Monte Smith Hill
Woman dressed in a toga posing on the acropolis at sunset
Cars, motorcycles, walkers, and jogger passing along a stretch of wall around Old Rhodes Town
Statue of a Grand Master in a garden outside the Palace of the Grand Masters at Rhodes
Eye painted onto the truck of a tree to ward off evil spirits
Grass and wildflowers growing between the steep stone walls of the moat at Old Rhodes Town
Tourist walking amongst trees with the Clock Tower in the background
A gulet and three motor yachts anchored in Rhodes harbour with the towns famous walls in the background
Carvings above a doorway on the Street of Knights in Rhodes
Coats of arms carved into stone above a doorway on the Street of Knights in Rhodes
Chapel inside the Palace of the Grand Masters in Old Rhodes Town
Bronze copy of Donatellos St. Nicholas of Bari in the Palace chapel
Intricate mosaic pattern of heart shaped leaves on ivy form the floor in a room in the Palace of the Grand Masters
The arms of a row of chairs feature carved wooden head studies in the Palace of the Grand Masters
Intricate coat of arms carved into the wall of the Palace of the Grand Masters
Tourists exploring the ancient sports stadium as seen from the top of the stone theatre
Tourists climbing down the steps of the stone theatre at the ancients sports stadium at Rhodes
Cruise liner just off a tourist beach of turquoise water on the Greek island of Rhodes
Garden surrounding an old church in Rhodes
Crenelated walls of Old Rhodes Town
Crenelated moat walls surrounding the Palace of the Grand Masters
Tourists walking in the moat surrounding the Old Town of Rhodes near the Palace of the Grand Masters
Tourists walking through the Virgin Marys Gate; Naillac Tower can be seen in the distance
Courtyard of the New Hospital of the Knights of Rhodes
Marble grave marker of a lion eating a bulls head on display in the courtyard of the New Hospital in Old Rhodes Town
Marble grave marker of a lion eating a bulls head on display in the courtyard of the New Hospital in Old Rhodes Town
Close up of stone spheres (presumably used in catapults) stacked in the courtyard of the New Hospital
Intricate archways and brickwork supporting the ceiling in a section of the New Hospital courtyard
Details of the mosaic floor in a small, uncovered courtyard in the New Hospital at Rhodes
Wooden altar in the Church of Our Lady of the Castle
The interior of the Church of Our Lady of the Castle in Old Rhodes Town
The interior of the Church of Our Lady of the Castle in Old Rhodes Town
Male and female deer statues flanking the entrance to Mandraki harbour at Old Rhodes Town
Hotels and resorts at the north end of Rhodes as seen from the top of Monte Smith hill
Visitors walking in front of three windmills at Mandraki harbour on a beautiful summer day
Single windmill against a cloudless blue sky
Copper statue of four dolphins jumping out of the water displayed in the commercial harbour at Rhodes
Coat of arms for the knights from the Inn of France
Pedestrians and vehicles passing under the stone archway at Freedom Gate at Rhodes
Trees and bushes growing in the dry moat surrounding Rhodes town
Ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite
Part of the first hospital built on Rhodes is now a museum
Tourists walking past a plain stone building in Old Rhodes Town
Plain faced stone building overlooking a small fountain was originally built as a hospital by the Knights of Rhodes
Tourists walking past shops in an old stone building in Rhodes
People walking in front of the plain-faced Church of Our Lady of the Castle in Rhodes
People wandering in a cobblestoned square ringed by shops and restaurants in Old Rhodes Town
Two-storied stone church with plain facade in front and a massive dome in the rear
Iron doors and shuttered windows face a long cobblestoned street in Old Rhodes Town
Iron doors and shuttered windows face a long cobblestoned street in Old Rhodes Town
Colourful souvenir shop with rainbow staircase displaying its wares outdoors
Hippocrates Square
A bustling Greek town square with fountain, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops
Shops lining a Greek town square
Church ruins with three intact peaked arches over the apse
Tourists walking through the Gate of the Virgin at Old Rhodes Town, Naillac Tower can be seen in the distance
Walking path in the moat that surrounds the walled city of Rhodes
Tourists walking under a stone bridge on the walkway around the Rhodes moat
Wildflowers grow along the walls of the Rhodes moat
A jogger and dog walker approach a bridge over the walking path built in the moat at Rhodes
Panorama of the inner walls of Old Rhodes Town as seen from inside the moat near DAmboise Gate
Visitors walk in the moat area near the DAmboise Gate
Three windmills at Mandraki harbour as seen from the sea
Passing by the statues of the fallow deer when exiting Mandraki harbour