Acropolis of Lindos, Archaeological acropolis in Lindos, Greece

The site rises on a steep rock above the Aegean and brings together remains from Greek, Roman and Byzantine times. The path leads through medieval fortifications up to free-standing columns, foundations and a viewing platform overlooking the coast and village below.

The steep 116-metre rock was fortified in early periods and later held the sanctuary of Athena Lindia, whose temple was rebuilt in the 4th century BC after a fire around 342 BC. In the 15th century the Knights of St John rebuilt the outer wall and added a tower in the south, turning the site back into a castle. Three bastions were added under Ottoman rule in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The sanctuary of Athena Lindia drew dedications from Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I Soter, Pyrrhus and Philip V. The priest Aglochartos, last attested in the 4th century AD, was praised in an inscription for planting olive trees on the rock. The church of Agios Ioannis, built over an earlier church, became a mosque under Ottoman rule.

The climb follows a narrow paved path that can be tiring in heat, so visiting early morning or late afternoon is recommended. Sturdy footwear is important because of the uneven steps and stones, and sun protection should be brought along.

At the base of the Propylaea stairway a relief of a three-oared warship is carved into the rock, likely dedicated to an admiral. This depiction shows how important seafaring was to the ancient city and belongs to the few preserved ship reliefs in Greece.