Travel Secrets
A winter city break in Rhodes island
As strange as it may sound, the greek island of Rhodes owes its glory to something that is not greek; the Medieval Town. The entire island was sold in the 14th AD century to the knights (Saint John), who, by moving from Jerusalem to the Aegean, left their mark on what is now the biggest tourist attraction of the fourth largest island in Greece. And if the above is questionable during the summer, during winter it acquires a different dynamic. Rhodes is what you need for a beautiful -and possibly a romantic- weekend, which will cost much less than an equivalent summer getaway.
Inside the walls...
Speaking of history with numbers, the old (medieval) town has 2400 years of history. Now 2,500 people live there and thousands from around the world walk in the streets every day.
Ippoton (Knight) street attracts you with its name alone. This uphill will lead you to the famous Palace of the Grand Master, the fortress which turned into the administrative center of the knights and the residence of the governor. After reaching, you will have already found the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes in front of you. This is what reminds you that the island existed and was strong, with its own culture, long before all kinds of Latinos appeared there.
The Palace, which now serves as a Byzantine Museum and impresses with its exterior and the interior grandeur, is a true revelation. Having arrived here, you are very close now to the Ntampouaz gate, which offers you a different view of the walls.
After a short detour to the gate, logic takes you to the downhill Socrates Street for a first encounter with the Ottoman period of Rhodes. The beautiful mosque of Suleiman and the Muslim library, at the beginning of the bustling street full of shops of all kinds, is one of the most characteristic fingerprints of the eastern culture. Sultan Mustafa’s mosque and Yeni Hamam municipal baths, at Arion Square, the mosque of Retzep Pasha at Dorieos Square, the mosque of Ibrahim Pasha at Plato Square and Aga mosque at Socrates square, are some more Muslim monuments that help to create a beautiful mosaic of cultures in the city.
And outside…
The Old City of Rhodes offers attractions, history, shopping and entertainment choices, however Rhodes does not end there. You will understand that when reaching Liberty Square and March 7 Street, where you will find some beautiful buildings, as the building of the South Aegean Region, that, built in 1927 combines different architectural styles, including the Gothic, and the Egyptian Mosque of Murat Reis with its elegant minaret across the street, that confirms the multiculturalism of the island.
A stroll in the picturesque Mandraki, the small harbor with the statues of a male and a female deer at the entrance –the trademark of the island-, is an inevitable and beautiful experience, while after a relaxing but long promenade, you will find yourself next to the marina with the three picturesque windmills and the lighthouse of Agios Nikolaos.
A walk on the west side of the town, where you will find the hotel of the roses (that is now a casino), the Aquarium and "Psaropoula" offers another romantic experience in the island. During winter, you can enjoy with calm a unique sunset overlooking Symi, Halki, Tilos and Nisyros islands, as well as the Turkish coast and the snowy mountains of Turkey.
To visit the Acropolis of Ancient Rhodes you will need to use the car. Located on the hill of St. Stephen, it is a witness of the glorious past of the island, also known as Monte Smith, from the English captain Smith who recorded the movements of the French ships during Napoleonic times. The ruins of Apollo temple at the top of the hill are the main visitor attraction and can be combined with another sunset of the island. Also, the Ancient Stadium of Rhodes, dating from the 3rd century BC century is below the temple.
Nikos Loupakis
