Medieval City of Rhodes, Fortified medieval castle complex in Rhodes, Greece
The Medieval City of Rhodes is a fortified old town featuring stone walls, Gothic buildings, and narrow winding streets arranged around the Palace of the Grand Master at its core. Defensive towers surround the area, and the layout includes residential quarters, open squares, and religious structures all integrated together.
The Knights of Saint John built the fortifications starting in 1309 and made the island their main stronghold in the Mediterranean. After more than 200 years of rule, they surrendered the city to Ottoman forces in 1522, ending their dominance in the region.
The Street of the Knights displays medieval inns built for different national groups, showing how diverse communities coexisted and organized their own spaces within the fortified town. Walking through reveals how this variety shaped the buildings and their architectural details.
The area is best explored on foot since narrow streets are the main feature and vehicles rarely pass through them. Comfortable shoes are important because the paths have uneven stone pavement and some sections slope steeply uphill.
Many visitors overlook the small chapels and religious alcoves quietly built into the old city walls, which provided spaces for local worship. These hidden places tell the story of everyday spiritual life during the Knights' rule.
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