Page 476 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

474  IT AL Y AND GREECE

d Rhodes and the Dodecanese ATHENS

The Dodecanese offer a wide range of landscapes and
activities. Their hot climate and fine beaches attract many Patmos
visitors, but the islands also boast lush, fertile valleys and Kos Rhodes
wooded mountains. The Dodecanese have been subject to Rhodes town •
•
several invasions, with periods of occupation by the medieval Kárpathos Líndos
Knights of St. John, the Ottomans, and the Italians. This
checkered history is still apparent in the islands’ impressively
varied architecture and wealth of historical sites.
Locator Map

divided – were used as meeting
places for the Knights. Begun in
the 14th century in Gothic style,
they were restored by the
Italians in the early 20th century.
The Archaeological
Museum, located in the
Collachium, contain many fine
exhibits from different periods
in Rhodes’ history. Don’t miss
the knightly Villaragut
Mansion in the back garden.
In the Bourgos area, the
Mosque of Suleiman was built
to commemorate the Sultan’s
victory over the Knights in 1522.
The Palace of the Grand Masters in Rhodes town The Library of Hafız Ahmet,
which houses the chronicle of
Rhodes of St. John arrived in 1309, they the Turks’ siege of Rhodes, and
built their citadel over these the now disused public baths,
* 115,500. k 15 km (9 miles)
SW of Rhodes town. g Commercial & ancient remains. Surrounded provide further reminders of the
Kolóna harbors, Rhodes town. @ by moats and 3 km (2 miles) of town’s Turkish past.
Mandráki, Rhodes town. n walls, the Knights’ medieval
Archiepiskopou Makariou 1, Rhodes citadel forms the center of the P Palace of the Grand Masters
town (22410-44330). Old Town, which is divided into Ippotón. Tel 22413-25500. Open Apr–
the Collachium and the Oct: 8am–8pm daily: Nov–Mar: 8am–
An important center from the Bourgos. The Collachium was 3pm Tue. Closed main public hols.
6th to 3rd centuries BC, Rhodes the Knights’ quarter, while the & 7 limited.
was later part of both the Bourgos was home to the
Roman and Byzantine empires rest of the population. Rhodes New Town
before being conquered by the Dominating the Old Town is Beyond the original citadel
Knights of St. John, the order the 14th-century Palace of walls, the new town
founded in the 11th century the Grand Masters, the of Rhodes is made up of
to tend Christian pilgrims in seat of 19 Grand Masters of a number of areas. These
Jerusalem. They occupied the the Knights during two include Néa Agora (new
island from 1309 to 1522, and centuries of occupation. market), with its whimsical
their medieval walled city still The palace houses several fishmongers’ gazebo, and
dominates Rhodes town. priceless mosaics from Mandráki harbor in the
Ottoman and Italian rulers sites in Kos, as well as two eastern half of town. Close
followed, leaving their own permanent exhibitions to the harbor are the
traces of occupation. Rhodes’ about ancient and mock Crusader Gothic
rich and varied history, sandy medieval Rhodes. Government House –
beaches, and lively nightlife The medieval Street a legacy of the Italian
attract hundreds of thousands of the Knights is lined 1920s building program
of tourists each year. by the Inns of the – and the Mosque of
Tongues of the Order Murad Reis, with its
Rhodes Old Town of St. John. The Inns – graceful minaret. The
The town of Rhodes has been there was one for each north west side of town
inhabited for over 2,400 years. of the seven Tongues, The minaret of is a busy tourist center,
A city was first built here in or nationalities, into the Mosque of with lively streets and
408 BC, and when the Knights which the Order was Murad Reis popular Elli beach.
For hotels and restaurants see pp484–6 and pp487–9

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