Rhodes (Rhodos, Rodos) Island - Dodecanese - Greece

About Rhodes Island - Greece

Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodekanese, a group of Greek islands located in the south east of the Aegean Sea. Since antiquity its unique location has brought it both power and wealth. On May 2008, Rhodes Island was voted the 5th best destination in the world and 1st in Europe!

On the northernmost tip of the island is the fascinating metropolis of Chora Ródos whose harbour entrance was once adorned by the Seventh Wonder Of The World, the Colossus Of Rhodes. But the legendary lighthouse has long since gone and today excursion boats and yachts crowd the island's former trading harbour that has a rich and dramatic past.

Byzantines, Arabs, The Knights Of The Order Of St. John, Ottomans and Italians, each one influenced the ever-changing history of the island that was first settled in 400 B.C.

In 1320 the Knights Of St. John discovered an old fortified town here and immediately began to expand its fortress into the Grand Master Palace. In its present form the building is a reconstruction of the original palace that was first built on the site of a temple for the Sun King, Helios. After a total of seven Christian crusades were unable to defeat Islam and the re-conquering of Jerusalem failed, the Knights Of the Order Of St. John were driven out of Palestine. First they sought shelter in Cyprus and next conquered the island of Rhodes that was then under the rule of Portuguese pirates. To protect themselves from the Turks as well as from the pirates the new owners of the island built several mighty fortresses.

Filérimos is located on the island's west coast close to the city of Rhodes. An avenue of pine trees leads to a huge concrete cross.

Petaloúdes, The Valley Of Butterflies has for many years been a popular attraction for tourists who usually arrive in organised groups. A creek that contains water throughout the year flows through a narrow valley and forms romantic waterfalls, cascades and small pools.

At the foot of Tsambika Mountain there's a small church, one of many that are scattered across the island. The Greek Orthodox Church and its nuns, monks and patriarchs have helped to preserve the region's language and culture.

At the city's highest point is the huge palace of the Grand Master, the monumental junction of the Street Of The Knights and the command post of the Christian order. The Grand Master was the highest dignitary of the Order Of The Knights Of Malta, a lifetime office.

The Street Of The Knights leads from the Grand Master Palace down the hill to the Hospital, a unique ensemble of Gothic medieval architecture set amid the Mediterranean. The main buildings of the various groups of knights were erected along the main street and it was here that the knights met and conferred according to their membership of various European regions.

Rhodes is an island steeped in history as well as the calm lifestyle of the Mediterranean. Rhodes is an island that bewitches all who experience it.

Rhodes Island..a trip into the light!

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