Rhodes is a city located on the island of the same name and being its capital, as well as the most important port. Its old, densely built-up area mainly from the Middle Ages is inscribed on the UNESCO list. The most important monument here is the Palace of the Grand Masters in the past belonging to the Order of St. John and valuable archaeological and Byzantine museums.
Located in the Aegean Sea near the coast of Turkey, the island of Rhodes was for centuries a place where East and West influences clashed. The city of Rhodes was founded by the Greeks, who left behind remains of the Acropolis and a statue of Aphrodite kept in the Archaeological Museum. The famous Rhodes Colossus guarding the port entrance and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world has not survived to our times.
During the Crusades Rhodes was taken by the Knights of St. John and built their fortress here, which guarded the borders of Christianity. Today it is the most impressive building in the city, connecting with the defensive walls, along which the walking route leads. Another monument left after the Knights of St. John is their basilica, which now houses the Byzantine Museum.
The influences of Turkish rule are also visible in the buildings of Rhodes. You can see, among others, the mosques of Suleyman the Magnificent and Hassan Pasha, as well as the Ottoman Library and the clock tower, from the top of which there is a beautiful view of the city.
