Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Rhodes

Discover the history of Rhodes — from the ancient Colossus to the Knights of Saint John. Learn about the UNESCO medieval Old Town, Lindos, and 3,000…

Teleporio™ travel intelligence

Rhodes has been ruled by Dorians, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Ottomans, Italians, and Greeks — each leaving a distinct architectural layer. Its medieval walled city, built by the Knights of Saint John, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.

Island symbol and meaning

The medieval castle representing Rhodes encodes the most dramatic chapter in the island's extraordinarily layered history: the rule of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John, who held Rhodes from 1309 to 1522 and transformed it into one of the most formidable fortified cities of the medieval world. The Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights, the city walls, and the moat system they built have survived virtually intact for seven centuries.

The Knights — a Catholic military order that had originally operated hospitals for pilgrims in Jerusalem — were driven from the Holy Land and settled briefly in Cyprus before conquering Rhodes from the Byzantine Empire. They governed the island as a sovereign state, organised by 'tongues' (langues) — national divisions representing knights from France, England, Provence, Italy, Aragon, Germany, Auvergne, and Castile. Each tongue maintained its own inn (auberge) along the Street of the Knights, several of which survive to this day.

After sustaining two major sieges (1444 and 1522), the Knights surrendered to Suleiman the Magnificent and were permitted to leave with their lives and possessions. They eventually settled in Malta. The ghost of their presence — in the cathedral, the palace, the elaborate system of towers and gates — is arguably the most complete surviving example of medieval Crusader urbanism anywhere in the world.

History

Ancient Rhodes was settled by Dorians around 1000 BC. In 408 BC the island's three city-states — Lindos, Ialysos, and Kameiros — merged to create the new city of Rhodes on the northern tip of the island. This synoikismos made Rhodes one of the wealthiest and most powerful city-states in the Aegean, commanding critical trade routes between Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.

The Colossus of Rhodes — a bronze statue of the god Helios constructed between 294 and 282 BC — stood at the entrance to the harbour and was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC; the fallen statue remained on the ground for centuries, attracting visitors. No contemporary depictions survive, and its exact appearance and location remain debated.

Rhodes flourished under Rome as a semi-independent state, maintaining its own legal system, coinage, and schools of philosophy and rhetoric. Julius Caesar studied rhetoric on Rhodes; so did Cicero and several other major Roman figures. The island's naval law (Lex Rhodia) formed the basis of maritime law across the Roman Empire and influenced later European commercial codes.

Byzantine and Arab raids weakened the island before the Crusader period. The Fourth Crusade (1204) briefly brought Latin control; then in 1309 the Knights Hospitaller purchased Rhodes and the surrounding islands from the Genoese. Their two-century rule transformed the city physically and made it a critical military outpost of Latin Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean.

After 1522 and Ottoman rule, Rhodes was administered by the Turkish governor and a significant Muslim population settled in the former Christian city. Italian colonial administration from 1912 brought systematic archaeological excavation and restoration of the medieval city. Reunification with Greece came in 1947.

Culture

The medieval Old Town of Rhodes is a living city — not a museum — with residents, restaurants, and workshops operating within the Crusader walls. The layering of cultures is visible in every street: Gothic doorways, Ottoman fountains, Byzantine church facades converted to mosques and back again, Italian rationalist buildings at the edges. Navigating the Old Town is an exercise in reading architectural history.

Rhodes has a strong tradition of folk arts — embroidery, ceramics, and the distinctive Rhodian pottery decorated with deer motifs (the island's symbol) and geometric patterns derived from Byzantine and Ottoman influences. The deer (elafos) has been the symbol of Rhodes since antiquity; two bronze deer at the harbour entrance mark the supposed location of the Colossus.

The island's food culture reflects its multicultural history. Pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), melekouni (sesame and honey bars traditionally given at weddings), and the local wines from the Emery winery draw on Rhodian agricultural traditions that predate the medieval period.

What the island is known for

Medieval Walled City

The UNESCO-listed Old Town is the most complete surviving example of medieval Crusader urbanism in the world.

Knights of Saint John

The Knights Hospitaller ruled Rhodes for 213 years (1309–1522), leaving an extraordinary architectural legacy.

The Colossus of Rhodes

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood at the harbour entrance — a bronze statue of Helios destroyed in 226 BC.

Lindos

A hilltop acropolis, Byzantine church, and medieval village set above one of the most photographed bays in Greece.

Travel insights

Best Season: April–June and September–October; the island is busy year-round but manageable outside August

Weather Note: Rhodes summers are typically warm and dry, but conditions vary by date and location. Check the current forecast for your plans.

Ferry Access: Major hub: Piraeus (14–18h overnight), Kos (2–4h), Kalymnos (4–5h), Symi (50 min), direct flights from most European cities

Trip Duration: 4–7 days to cover Old Town, Lindos, and the interior

Tip: Stay inside the Old Town walls for the most atmospheric experience. Book well in advance for July and August.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Rhodes famous for its medieval history?

Rhodes was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John from 1309 to 1522 — a Catholic military order that built one of the medieval world's most formidable fortress cities. The Old Town they created, with its palace, Street of Knights, walls, and moat system, survives almost intact and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What was the Colossus of Rhodes?

The Colossus was a bronze statue of the sun god Helios, built between 294 and 282 BC to commemorate the island's victory over a Macedonian siege. Standing approximately 33 metres high, it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC and never rebuilt.

Is the Old Town of Rhodes a living city?

Yes. Unlike many preserved historic centres, the Old Town of Rhodes is a functioning residential and commercial district where several thousand people live. Restaurants, shops, craftsmen's workshops, and hotels operate within the Crusader walls alongside the major monuments.

Is Lindos worth visiting?

Lindos is one of the most striking sites in the Aegean — a Classical acropolis (with a temple of Athena Lindia), a Byzantine church, and a medieval village set above a dramatic double bay. The climb is steep in summer heat; visiting early morning or late afternoon is strongly advised.

Read the Rhodes travel guide and practical planning details.

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