Rhodes, greek island in Dodecanese

 




Rhodes









Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greese and is their historical capital. It is the night largest islands in the Mediterranea Sea. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit which is part of the South Aegean administrative.






1. Palace of grand Master








The Palace of the Grand Master, also known as Kastello, is located at the end of the Street of the Knights in the Old Town of Rhodes. Originally built on the foundations of the Temple of the Sun God (Helios), whose cult was much spread in Rhodes during antiquity, this palace was the residence of the governor and administrative center in the Medieval times. Constructed in the 14th century by the Knight of Saint John it is distinguished for its spherical towers and the arched gate.The palace was enormous, featuring 158 rooms, but only 24 are open to visitors nowadays. The rooms have antique furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries, exquisite multi-colored marble, sculptures, carpets, and fine Oriental vases. On the first floor are the official rooms as well as the private quarters of the Grand Master. On the ground floor, the auxiliary rooms are found.Unfortunately, this magnificent building was largely destroyed in 1856 by explosives, hidden in the basement of the church of Saint John. At the beginning of the 20th century, the palace was restored by the Italians who occupied the Dodecanese islands at that time. In the years that followed, it served as a holiday residence for the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini. Today, it belongs to the Greek State and hosts an interesting museum. Also, various exhibitions and performances frequently take place in the palace rooms.







2. Acropolis of Lindos






The ancient town of Lindos, was founded by the Dorians in the 10th century BC. In the 8th century, it was already a major trading center, due to its geographical position between Greece and the Middle East. However, it started to decline when the city of Rhodes was founded, in the 5th century.The Acropolis of Lindos stands dominantly on a 116-meter cliff. It occupies an area of about 8400 meters and was once the most strongly fortified site on the island of Rhodes. The archaeological remains inside and around the Acropolis reveal the wealth of this ancient town. Part of its collection of historically significant monuments is a Doric 4th-century temple devoted to Athena Lindia, where people used to worship their patron goddess with offerings and sacrifices. It was built on the remains of another temple.During the reign of the Knights of St. John, the castle is encircled by stronger fortress walls, and Lindos flourishes as a maritime force until the nineteenth century.






3. Panagia tou bourgou






Standing near the Gate of the Virgin, Panagia tou Bourgou (also known as the Virgin Mary of the Burgh or Our Lady of Mercy) is one of the most distinctive landmarks in the medieval Town of Rhodes. It is one of the first cathedrals that were constructed on the island and the oldest church that still stands in Rhodes.

This classic and breathtaking monument dates from the early 14th century, when Helion de Villeneuve was the Grand Master of the Knights of Saint John, and it is a stone-built three-aisled basilica of Gothic architecture. Over the centuries, six more side chapels were added, and seven arched tombs were constructed on the northern wall.The cathedral is estimated to have remained in use till the early 16th century and was eventually destroyed in 1522, when the Ottomans, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, laid siege to the town. Only three vaulted arches have survived to this day, along with parts of the chapels; however, though the monument is, today, destroyed for the most part, its ruins remain highly impressive.

Thus, various cultural events are organized at the archaeological site during the summer, with the arches being illuminated in the evening hours.





4. Butterflies Valley






The Valley of Butterflies, a natural reserve unique in its kind, lies in the northwestern part of Rhodes, approximately 27 km from Rhodes Town. As its name indicates, this area is a verdant valley that hosts Panaxia Quadripunctaria (Jersey Tiger) butterflies over the summer months.Butterflies lay their eggs in September and, around late October, the newly-born butterflies take the form of larvas. During the month of May, they stay in their caterpillars in various areas around the Mediterranean Sea, and, in early June, they eventually emerge as full butterflies. Then, they fly to areas of high humidity in order to reproduce. That is why they flock to this valley, which is traversed by the Pelekanos River.In this biotope, dense vegetation, quaint wooden bridges, rocky trails, as well as small waterfalls and ponds combine to create a magical setting that fills visitors with awe, and, at the same time, a profound sense of peace. What makes it so unique is the abundance of oriental sweetgum trees, as their aromatic resin, along with the high levels of humidity, is what attracts millions of butterflies every year. Since this tree species is extremely rare in Europe, this is one of the very few habitats where it can be found on the entire continent.






5. Rhodes aquarium




The Rhodes Aquarium is housed in the building of the Hydrobiological Station, at the northernmost tip of Rhodes town v . The building was constructed in 1934-35, during the Italian occupation, to house the Rhodes Royal Institute of Biological Research. After the liberation of the Dodecanese islands, it began to operate as a regional station of the Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute and included an aquarium and a museum. Its main objective is to present and preserve the species of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as to conduct model marine research on the oceanography of the Dodecanese.he building, which has been declared a listed monument of Greece’s modern heritage, was designed by the Italian architect Armando Bernabiti. Combining local with Art Deco architectural elements, it is characterized by curved lines and circular windows, which, along with the central cylindrical tower, are intended to reflect marine aesthetics. The decorations on the main entrance are inspired by the local sea fauna, while the main exhibition area is made of porous rocks and shells, resembling an underwater cave. Later additions include a more modern museum area and a water tank for seals.

 


Comments