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| Rhodes |
| A colossus among Greek islands |
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| The medieval fortifications of Rhode's Town. |
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and the top packaged-tour destination in Greece. For decades a favorite destination of Scandinavians, Germans and Brits, Rhodes has developed one of the best hotel infrastructures in the country and offers holidaymakers top quality accommodations and service.
The main attractions of Rhodes are undoubtedly its medieval old town and the almost 100 km stretch of grey and white sand beaches that span the entire eastern part of the island; from Rhodes Town to Prassonisi, at its southern tip. The ancient acropolis of Lindos is one of the best preserved ancient sites in the whole country and the village of Lindos is as charming as they come.
Rhodes was first colonized by the Minoans of Crete and then by the Myceneans and the Dorians. By the 5th century BC the island's three major cities, Lindos, Ialysos and Kamyros formed a commonwealth and contributed to the building of a new capital, "Rose City", or "Rodos" in Greek. The island ruled its surrounding region both in trade and in military terms, and it became one of the leading powers of the Eastern Mediterranean around the time of Alexander the Great, in the 4th century BC.
During the wars of succession that followed Alexander's death, Rhodes was besieged by Demetrios Poliorkitis ("the Siege Layer") and an army of Syrians but managed to stave off the invaders who left behind a great deal of arms and siege equipment. The locals used this bronze to cast the Colossus, one the wonders of the ancient world, which stood 42 m (140 ft), near the harbor, until an earthquake caused it to tumble in early 3rd century AD.
From that point on it is a constant stream of invaders and other assorted ... passers by that mark the history of the island. Romans, Arabs, Saracens, Venetians, and Crusaders left their mark, until, in 1291, the Knights of St John bought the Dodecanese from the ruling Genoese corsairs and established their order on the islands. Rhodes flourished and the Knights built the city as we know it today, with the Palace of the Grand Master, the Auberges, and the mighty fortifications that withstood years of pounding by Ottoman armies, determined to conquer Rhodes and stop the Knights' interference in their shipping routes.
Finally, in 1522, Suleiman the Magnificent laid a 12-month seige on Rhodes and ended the rule of the Knights of St John over the island and the archipelago. The island suffered mass attrocities during the Greek Revolution of 1821, as its Turkish rulers punished the revolting islanders for what they saw as disloyal and insulting behavior from a favored and privileged territory of the Ottoman Empire. The island, along with the rest of the Dodecanese, came under Italian jurisdiction after the 1913 Balkan War and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, and it was, finally, joined with Greece in 1948, after WW II.
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| The Highlights |
- The Old Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO-protected and perfectly preserved medieval city.
- Lindos, a romantic town with a fine sandy beach and beautifully preserved Acropolis.
- The valley of the butterflies in the mainland, during the spring.
- The grey sandy beaches along the east coast.
- The modern resort hotels in the western suburbs of Rhodes Town, mainly around Ixia.
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| We Recommend |
- Visit the Palace of the Grand Master and its museum.
- Walk around the Old Town, especially early in the morning, before the crowds descend on it, for a feel of what life might have been like during the 13th and the 14th centuries.
- Hang out at the beach in the resort towns of Ixia and Faliraki for great people-watching.
- Drive to the desserted beaches of southern Rhodes, from Prasonisi to Plimiri, for almost complete isolation and quiet.
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| We Do Not Recommend |
- The coffee shops in the Old Town with their loud hawkers who come close to harassing passers by to earn business.
- Restaurants with placards out front presenting their menus with pictures. The food is invariably mediocre, although relatively cheap.
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| Useful Information |
| The country code for Greece is 0030 (from the US and Canada: 01130). |
| Police Station |
| There are police stations in every major and secondary town, usually at the central square or on main street. For emergencies, dial 100. |
| Hospital |
| The hospital is in Rhodes town, on Papalouka Street, at the northwest end of Rhodes town (24410 80000). |
| Pharmacy |
| There are pharmacies everywhere in Rhodes town and in the major towns and resort areas. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 2 pm. In the off hours, there is always one or two pharmacies open in Rhodes town whose addresses and phone numbers are posted on the doors of the closed pharmacies. Ask the front desk of your hotel for assistance. |
| Foreign Press Outlet |
| Rhodes is a major tourist area and there are foreign press outlets everywhere, including most mini markets. |
| Internet Cafe |
| These days there seem to be Internet cafes everywhere, and certainly in all major towns and some secondary ones. Many travel agencies offer Internet access, and not only to their clients. |
| Car Rental |
| All hotel front desks and all travel agencies will arrange for a car rental to be delivered to you, and will provide information on available options. Most of the international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, etc) operate on the island. Etos Rent-a-Car on Sofokli Venizelou (24410 22511, 6944 307012, 24 hrs) is very helpful and will deliver the car at your door. Also, Kritikos Rent-a-Car at Kolympia (kritikospanos@yahoo.gr, tel 22410 56012). |
| Bank |
| Rhodes is full of banks and ATMs. In Rhodes town, the full-service banks are in the new town, and there are banks in Faliraki and Ixia. They handle all major transactions, such as money transfers, cash advances on credit cards, and money wires. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-2pm and Friday 8 am-2.30 pm. ATMs are ubiquitous, including the lobbies of many major hotels. |
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