JULY 2023 : DAY 36 : RHODES : Rhodes Town

Rhodes Town 

Our last breakfast at Giorgio’s 

We took a taxi with Ros and Chris to Rhodes Town - 40 minutes

This is a map of the old town, fortified by the Knights of St John/Hospitaliers/Crusaders in the 14th century

We had a walk around Mandraki port, with views to the castle/palace. One of the distinguishing features is the windmills. Only three remain. In the 14th century they were used for grinding grain for export. Eventually they were converted to windmills and fortification towers.

There are seven gates. We entered by the impressive Marine Gate. During the time of the Knights each gate was guarded by a different garrison, which successfully repelled the Ottoman forces, until 1522.

Lots of activity in the wide plazas and narrow streets. Many rooftop restaurants. It reminded us a little of the main square in Marrakech.

In the centre of the town are the ruins of the 14th century church, Our Lady of Burgh. The home church of the Knights of St John and the oldest remaining building of that era. Unfortunately it was bombed by the Germans in 1943 in the Battle of Rhodes, when Rhodes was under Italian occupation.



We found a lovely rooftop restaurant for lunch, La Verandah, where there was a cool breeze.

Delicious salads.

The castle or more recently the palace dominates the skyline. 

The site was originally the citadel of the Knights of St John but was destroyed in 1522. Mussolini rebuilt it in 1937, furnishing it with mosaics and statues from Kos.

We toured the ‘palace’ and enjoyed the artefacts in the small museum, which gave a more authentic picture of medieval life under the Knights. They put Rhodes on the trading route, developed educational institutions, built churches, and guaranteed their citizen’s protection against marauding pirates and foreign  powers.

Historical paintings of the harbour, daily life and the defending the walled town against Ottoman invaders during the Knights’ era

Dinner down by the beach

We chose some new dishes - a prawn cheese casserole and veal and veg.

Tonight was the first night of the Rhodes Jazz Festival - a week of free concerts at 9pm just inside the city walls. The first band were bouzouki, double bass and hand drums. 

We’ll go tomorrow night too!




M&M