Medieval City of Rhodes, Fortified medieval castle complex in Rhodes, Greece
The Medieval City of Rhodes is a fortified old town on the Greek island of Rhodes, enclosed by thick stone walls and towers that follow the outline of the historic settlement. Inside, narrow streets connect small squares, Gothic stone buildings, mosques, and old churches, all arranged around the Palace of the Grand Master.
The Knights of Saint John took control of Rhodes in 1309 and turned the settlement into their main base in the eastern Mediterranean, building much of what still stands today. The city passed to Ottoman forces in 1522, and the new rulers added mosques and baths that still stand alongside the earlier structures.
The Street of the Knights is lined with stone inns that each belonged to a different national group within the Order, and their carved doorways and coats of arms are still visible today. Walking this street gives a clear sense of how the city was divided into distinct communities living side by side.
The old town is best explored on foot, as the streets are too narrow for vehicles and most points of interest are within easy walking distance of each other. The stone pavement is uneven in many places and some streets climb steeply, so sturdy shoes make a real difference.
Beneath the old town runs a network of underground passages and cisterns that the Knights used for water storage and defense, and some sections can still be visited today. This hidden layer of the city goes largely unnoticed by visitors who focus on the streets and buildings above.
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