Travel

Rhodes Island, located in Dodecanes  Archipelago in the Eastern Mediterranean, is the meeting place of west and east, with a wonderful nature that combines golden sand beaches with valleys, hills and mountains, lighted by the sun the whole year. The Romans, the Knights of St. John, the Ottomans and later, at the beginning of the XX century the Italians have stopped on this island, each leaving behind his fingerprint, but not managing to know the Greek roots of the island.
Rhodes Island has been inhabited since the Neolithic. From 1100 I.C. when the Dorriens arrived on the island, they founded the three localities of Lindos, Ialysos and Kamiros, which were developed as a commercial center and transit for goods. This made the island to develop as an important commercial node. The most well-known and brave mariners in antiquity, the inhabitants of the island, have developed the first navigation laws, laws on which the Nautical international code is based even today.

Around the year 800 I.C. the three localities along with the island of Kos and fortresses of Halicarnassus and Cnidus in Asia Minor have formed an alliance, political and religious called the Dorian Hexapolis, and in 408 B.C. is decided that the north town of the island should become the capital of present Rhodes. The new capital plans were designed by the architect Ippodamus, but a devastating earthquake destroyed the city in 227 B.C.
The 3rd century B.C. is the moment when the island is conquered by the Romans and later by the Gots. From the 3rd century A.C. during the Byzantine Empire, the island has passed from the Arabs to the Genoese. In 1309 the Order of the Knights of St. John conquered the island from Genoese and laid here for more than two centuries, during which time they have fought against Muslims and they have developed economy and commercial relations, building the castle and fortifications, which were kept in very good conditions until today.
The Ottoman Turks have dominated the island for approximately  400 years, for which reason the old city area is full of mosques. In 1912, the Italians come into possession of the island after a short war with the Ottoman Empire and make this “Pearl” an Italian colony. The Italians built many buildings with public interest: the new market, the aquarium, in a very particular oriental Mediterranean style. They rebuild walls of the fortress, but they are all partially destroyed during the Second World War.
Rhodes is the capital of island and was founded 2400 years now. The tour begins with the exploration of the ancient “Acropola” city, located on Smith Mountain, where there are ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the stadium. Near the Acropola you will discover a different world, with high walls and narrow streets typical of the medieval Knights fortress. Byzantine churches, built in Gothic style, palaces, inns and mosques coexist with the modern style of new buildings that surround the historic and ancient port bordered by the magnificent statue of Colosseum  ave ry long time symbol of the Rhodos.
A Greek  evening with different traditional food in the  Restaurant in the town of Pastida: vestibules for 4 persons, salad, tzatziki, humus, mainly as a mixed-grill, dessert made of season fruits and 1 bottle of wine.

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