c.The medieval town of Rhodes

view of the medieval town of Rhodes. Entering  the medieval town through the Gate of Freedom see photo,  near the New Market (Mandraki), we come upon the Simis Sq. Here we will  find exposed sparse remains of the Temple of Aphrodite. On the left is the Municipal Art Gallery see infocontaining works by famous Greek artists. Very close to the Gallery's building  there is the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Inn of Auvergne.  It was used as a hostel by the Knights where those who spoke one of their eight ‘tongues’, in this case that of Auvergne, were accommodated. A little further on the right is the beginning of the famous Street of the Knights see photo, where we feel that it remained unattached by the passage of the 500 years since it was first built (14th century). Here the Gothic order predominates. The Inns of the various ‘Tongues’ stand in a row, with impressive arched doorways and  important emblems carved above them.
Next, as we climb the hill to the direction of the Palace of the Grand master  or the Castello as it is now called, we arrive to  the Collachium, the quarter of the Knights,. On our right we will find the Inn of Italy and then the Inn of France, the largest one. Still on the right, the next building is the Inn of Province, while on the left is the Inn of Spain. In front of the Castello is the Loggia of St. John.
The Palace of the Grand Master, the most imposing building of the  medieval town of  Rhodes, is at the end of the Street of the Knights. It was built during  the 14th century, but was damaged and almost completely demolished in 1856 by an  explosion of gunpowder that was  stored in its basement by the Turks. It was restored in 1939, during the Italian occupation. During the  restoration, any effort was made to follow the original design. The Palace was intended by the fascist regime as a residence for the Italian King Vittorio Emmanuele II or for Mussolini.
Following the  Orfeos St. from the Castello towards the south, we arrive at  the clock - tower and the Mosque of Suleyman, before entering the Socrates St., the street that attracts most the visitors with  its  cafés,  restaurants and stores. 
Following  down the Socrates St. we arrive at Ippokratous Square, a main  attraction in Rhodes. Facing is the Court of Commerce, a fine, early 15th century building. Walking the  Aristotle’s St., we come to a much bigger square  the  Square of the Jewish Martyrs.  Our walk continues towards east,  to the recently, partially restored church of  St. Pateleimon (15th century) and the ruined church of Our Lady of Victory, which was built in the memory of the victorious outcome  of  the Turkish siege in 1480. On the left we will find the  St. Catherine’s Gate. We are now at the  front of the commercial harbor, where ferries and large cruise ships anchor.
We can  return to Ippokratous Square,  following the walls walking  along the Ermou St., as we come upon the Museum Square. On the front stands  the Inn of England and the Archaeological Museum that is housed in the restored building of the Hospital of the Knights (15th century) .

previous contents next