Rhodes Town is the capital and largest city of the island of Rhodes. Before visiting the city, it is important to learn a little about its history in order to find out why this city is so diverse

A BIT OF HISTORY

Rhodes Town was founded in 408 BC by the towns of Ialyssos, Kamiros and Lindos. Here was built the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The city was an important trade centre connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East which also influenced the culture and architecture throughout the island.

During the Middle Ages, the city was the seat of the Knights of St John, who ruled for over 200 years. The island was repeatedly attacked by the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in the construction of numerous fortifications and walls. These were the strongest fortifications in Europe at the time.

In 1523 the Knights of St John left the island as a result of a peace treaty negotiated with Suleiman the Magnificent, which began the Ottoman period that lasted almost until the 20th century. During this period many mosques, baths and libraries were built in the city.

In 1912 the island of Rhodes and the rest of the Dodecanese islands passed into Italian hands. During this period, the so-called New Town, which is located next to the Mandraki Harbour, was designed and built. The Palace of the Grand Master was also rebuilt. Almost all Ottoman buildings in the city were destroyed during this period.

During World War II, the city suffered greatly from bombing raids, most notably the historic part of the city. After the war the old town was rebuilt by the Greek authorities and in 1988 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With such a rich history, Rhodes Town is a mixture of Western, Greek, Italian and Ottoman culture. Remnants of each era can be found almost everywhere.

WE'RE SIGHTSEEING IN THE CITY

We start our tour of Rhodes Town from Mandraki Harbour which is best reached by rental car or bus. This is where, according to legend, the Colossus of Rhodes stood. Today two monuments stand here - symbols of the island - a deer and a doe. From Mandraki Harbour daily departures ships to the island of Symi, to Lindos or offering various tourist attractions.

From the port of Mandraki we will walk to the New Town to admire the Italian architecture, and then head to the northernmost point of the island where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean.

The highlight of the Rhodes Town tour will be its UNESCO-listed Old Town. Rhodes Old Town is mainly medieval, but it also contains the ruins of the ancient temples of Aphrodite and Athena. Walking deeper into the old town you will reach the most famous street - Knights Street. In medieval times each house was inhabited by the Knights of St John from different countries. The hospital rooms on the southern side now serve as an archaeological museum. At the end of the street is the entrance to the Palace of the Grand Masters. After visiting the Palace, it is worth taking a tour of the ramparts around the old town. Admission to the city walls is free, but they are only open until 3 p.m. After walking around the entire walls, we can take a similar route, but through the dry moat, which is located between the walls. The exit from the dry moat is near the Palace of the Grand Masters, from here it is worth entering the Old Town and walking along the main shopping street - Socrates Street. Here you can buy many local Rhodesian products or enter the numerous boutiques. However, it is worth going off the main route to discover small cafes, bakeries and local artisans.

This is my first video in the 'One day in...' series. If you have any suggestions write a comment below 👇

Video shot with DJI Osmo Pocket camera and DJI Mavic Air drone

00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Mandraki Harbour
02:01 - The New Town
02:40 - Old Town of Rhodes I
06:01 - Fortifications of Rhodes
07:11 - Old Town of Rhodes II