Medieval Rhodes - A Journey through Time
Rhodes may be Europe’s best preserved medieval city dating back to the crusader era with numerous walls, towers, bastions, and gates. It has its own towering acropolis at Lindos, and was home to the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Embark on a captivating journey with Haswell Travelled's Rhodes YouTube video, where we stroll through its old town streets exploring key sights, sharing routes of our walking tour, along with the fascinating stories that bring Rhodes to life.
The Greek island of Rhodes is situated in the southeastern Aegean Sea, just off the coast of Turkey and within easy reach of Egypt and the Holy Land. According to Greek mythology, Zeus created the island of Rhodes and offered it to Sun God Helios, who then became the patron god of the island.
In 305 BC, Rhodes withstood a gruelling year-long siege. To commemorate their triumph, the Rhodians erected an enormous statue of Helios, their sun god. This was the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, standing over 30 meters high atop a 15-meter pedestal. It stood for 56 years at the entrance to the harbour until an earthquake snapped it off at the knees, sending the giant figure crashing to the ground. The broken Colossus lay on the ground for over 800 years, until 654 AD, when Arab forces captured Rhodes and sold the bronze remains for scrap. Popular legend claims the Colossus straddled the harbour, with one foot where each of the deer statues stands today.
Legendary location of the Colossus of Rhodes
Founded in Jerusalem during the First Crusade, the Knights Hospitaller began as a religious order caring for Christian pilgrims. After Muslim forces took the region, they withdrew and took control of Rhodes in 1311, ruling for two centuries as the Knights of St. John. When the Templars were disbanded in 1312, much of their wealth supported Rhodes’ defenses. The Knights transformed the city into the medieval masterpiece we see today, with 4 km of walls, a moat, 11 towers, and 11 gates — many still standing.
The Knights’ main mission in Rhodes was to defend Christian Europe from the rising Ottoman Empire. After capturing Constantinople in 1453, the Ottomans grew stronger and first besieged Rhodes in 1480 but failed after three brutal months. Seeing the Knights as pirates raiding their trade routes, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent returned in 1522 with 400 ships and 100,000 men. Outnumbered, the 7,000 defenders fought for six months before surrendering, and Rhodes remained under Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years.
Saint Paul's Gate
Rhodes is filled with landmarks that reflect its rich history. As we stroll through Old Town, we see layers of defensive walls that once made it one of the strongest fortresses of its time. On the west side, the impressive Gate d’Amboise is among the best-preserved entrances. The Palace of the Grand Master, originally a 7th-century Byzantine citadel, was transformed by the Knights in 1309 into their administrative center. The famous Street of the Knights, lined with inns for each division of the Order and their esteemed guests, remains beautifully intact.
Hippocrates Square
Along Aristotelous and Sokratous Streets, we find a lively mix of shops, cafés, and historic buildings. Iconic Hippocrates Square and Jewish Martyrs Square, with their fountains, are favorite gathering spots. Today, Rhodes stands as one of the best-preserved and most complete Crusader-era fortified cities in the world.
Immerse yourself in the captivating episode of Rhodes on the Haswell Travelled YouTube channel. The video is also easily accessible via the website’s Greece web page, allowing viewers to explore this enchanting content alongside other fabulous destinations.
