Rhodes (Rodos) Old Town

The city of Rhodes was founded in 408 BC and the city was soon admired as one of the most beautiful cities of the period.  By the time it came under Roman and later Byzantine domination it had lost its ancient glory.  In 1309 The Knights of Saint John conquered Rhodes and built strong fortifications, transforming it into a thriving multinational medieval city.  In 1503 Rhodes was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and the Greeks had to settle outside the walls.  In 1912 Rhodes, as well as the rest of the Dodecanese were seized by the Italians who enhanced the architecture of the city with magnificent buildings, wide roads and squares.

Each of the conquerers left significant signs of their presence but they all failed to sever the deep Greek roots of the island population.  However, it was not until 1948 that Rhodes officially became a part of Greece - which was a complete surprise to me.  Today, Rhodes is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the Mediterranean.

Mandraki Harbour entrance with a male and a female Rhodian deer (the symbol of Rhodes).

The fortifications and castle of the Knights of Saint John which form the centre of Rodos Old Town.  Eleven gates lead to the interior and the Old Town is today one of the best preserved fortified medieval towns and is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.  Over two centuries the Knights strengthened the huge medieval walls surrounding the Old Town by constantly thickening them (they are up to 13 meters/40 ft thick in places).

The moat around the old town which never contained water but was simply a device to prevent invaders from constructing siege towers.

The entrance to the castle and to the Old Town.

A further inner gateway.

The famous street of the Knights (Ippoton Street) leading to the Grand Master's Palace.

Gargoyles above one's head walking down Ippoton Street.

The crennelated towers of the Master's Palace. The most imposing edifice of the Old Town was the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of Saint John and at the same time a strong fortress.  It was built in the 14th century on the ruins of a Byzantine fort.

The Grand Master's Palace was destroyed in the period of Ottoman rule and rebuilt in the 1930s in the grand style we see today.

Looking into the castle courtyard.

Statue of a lion in another courtyard.

Sulemein's Mosque with its spiralling minaret.