|
Lindos,
distant 47km from the city of Rhodes, is one of the
the island's major tourist attractions. The village
has perfectly preserved its medieval character, with
pebble-covered streets and whitewashed houses built
on a slope just over the sea.
A series of steps leads to the ancient Acropolis
with its Doric Temple of Athena.
Through the main gate we discern the ruins of the
Knight's Lodge and the Byzantine church of St. John.
Outside the Doric Stoa the prow of a Lindian
Hellenistic trireme has been carved in a rock (4.5 m
x 5 m). We cross the Doric Stoa (5th century BC)
with its 42 columns (20 have been restored) and
climb the majestic staircase to higher terrace with
Propylaean ruins (5th century BC). From this point
we reach the Sanctuary of Lindian Athena, with its
elegant bi-prostyle temple on the edge of the cliff
(4th century). Ruins of an ancient theater have been
found on the slope of the Acropolis. The ancient
Acropolis was then built into a castle.
It is said that St.
Paul the Apostle landed here when he came to the
island of Rhodes; accordingly, the tiny harbor on
the other side of village has been named Agios
Pavlos.
In the village you can visit the Byzantine church
covered with eighteenth century frescoes. In the
recent years, some 15th century houses have been
declared traditional buildings to be preserved and
can be visited.
Today, this peaceful traditional village has been
chosen by many VIPs as the place to build a vacation
house.
|