Page 144 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

142 Palace of the Grand Masters, Rhodes

Built in the 14th century by the Knights of Rhodes, who
occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1522, this fortress within a
fortress was the seat of 19 Grand Masters, the nerve center of
the Collachium, or Knights' Quarter, and the final refuge for
Rhodes' citizens in times of danger. It was destroyed by an
accidental explosion in 1856 and restored by the Italians in the
early 20th century as a residence for Mussolini and King Victor
Emmanuel Ill. The palace contains some priceless mosaics from
sites in Kos, after which some of the rooms are named. It also
houses two exhibitions-Ancient Rhodes and Medieval Rhodes.

[;;!;) Central Courtyard Gilded angel candle-
holder in the palace
[;;!;) Chamber with Colonnades
An Early Christian mosaic from
the 5th century AD decorates the "*
floor of this room. Two elegant [;;!;) Battlements
A Medusa Chamber ~ The palace's heaiJY fortifications
The mythical Gorgon Medusa, with colonnades support the roof.
rl were designed to be the last
her hair of writhing serpents, forms '{...,. <' line of defense in the event of
the centerpiece of this important late- Thyrsus Chamber • the city walls being breached.
H ellenis tic mosaic. The chamber also ,
features Chinese and Islamic vases.
Entrance to Ancient
Rhodes exhibition

Second Cross-
Vaulted Chamber
Once used as the
governor's office,
this room is paved
with an intricately
decorated mosaic
from Kos that
dates from the
5th century AD. --..::....:..,~~"*--

First Cross-Vaulted __ _::~---ilf~~~~~f
Chamber

[;;!;) Medusa Chamber
[;;!;) Main
Gate

Chamber of the
[;;!;) laocoon Chamber Nine Muses
A copy of the "Laocoon" First Chamber Busts of the Nine Muses
group, a famous sculpture This room has a late- of Greek mythology can
depicting the deaths of the Hellenistic mosaic be seen in the mosaic on
Trojan priest Laocoon and and 16th-century this room's floor.
his two sons, dominates this choir stalls.
hall. The original, created by Grand
Rhodian artists Athenodoros, Staircase
Second Chamber
Agesandra and Polydoros This contains a late-
in the 1st century AD, is in Entrance to Medieval
Rome's Vatican Museum. H ellenistic mosaic and Rhodes exhibition
carved choir stalls.