Entries about island

The island of Rhodes is located in southeastern Greece. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands. I spend a week there several years ago.

I explored quite well the capitol of Rhodes; Rhodes Town, Lindos and some other places.

Rhodes Town has an interesting Medieval area and also a modern neighboorhood with all the amenities for tourist and locals.

The Palace of the Grandmasters is one of the highlights of Rhodes Town.

Originally this palace was built in the late 7th century as a Byzantine citadel. It was converted by the knights Hospitaller into their administrative center and the palace of their Grand Master.

During the Ottoman occupation; from 1522 to 1912 this building was used as prison. In 1865 and explosion in an arsenal almost destroyed the palace. In the early 20th century it was restored by the Italians.

On the first floor of the palace there were several official rooms, the dining room and the private quarters of the Grand Master.

The palace had 158 rooms. Today only 24 are open to visitors. Inside you can see a couple of collections of archaeological finds.

I don' t remember much about this palace but I remember there were various nice statues of angels inside.

The archaeological museum is another sight in Rhodes Town. It is housed in the main hospital of the city during the knights' era. This palace was built in 1440 and enlarged between 1481 and 1489. It was restored between 1913 and 1918.

This museum has lots of findings as vases, figurines, mosaic floors; funerary slabs of the knights. There is even a collection of Roman sculptures and two 6th century kouros. These are statues of idealized young males.

The thing I liked much of all here was the statue of the so-called Aphrodite of Rhodes. It is more than 2000 years old (see pic.).

The Byzantine tower clock (Roloj) is nice tower built on the ruins of a Byzantine tower that was connected with the Palace of the Grand Master. In 1856 it was destroyed by the explosion of the nearby church of S. John of the Knights.

For the price of some euros you can go up to the top and enjoy the landscape over the town. A complimentary drink is included in the fee.

The old core of Rhodes Town is surrounded by walls. These were probably built on Byzantine fortifications in stages; from 1330 to 1522.

The walls are around 4 km long and have an average thickness of 12 metres. They have several towers and eleven gates.

Each order of knights was responsible for the defense of a section of the walls.

Ipoton Street, or the street of the knights is about 600 meters long. Here, on both sides you can see the inns belonged to them. These were used as gathering places and temporary residences for visiting dignitaries. Today the inns are used as government offices.

Sokratus street runs downhill from Suliman pasha' s mosque to Hippokates square. It is the main street in the old town. It is packed with shops and cafes.

The mosque of Suliman pasha was originally built in 1542. Then it was rebuilt in 1808. Unfortunately when I visited Rhodes town it was closed.

At Ippokratus square you can find various shops and restaurants. The building with a staircase you see in this picture is the Kastelania. It was built in 1597 and was used as a shopping mall. Today it houses the town library.

The Mandraki harbour was the port of ancient Rhodos. Its entrance could be closed with chains. Here you see two statues of a male and a female deer on columns; three windmills not more in use and a 15th century fort.

At the harbour you can see lots of fishing boats and boats which leave for day trip cruises to Symi Island, to Marmaris; in Turkey and to other places.

If you feel like shopping or if you are looking for a restaurant you can head to the new market; or Nea Agorà . This market is situated opposite the Mandraki. There is a good choice of restaurants, cafes and shops inside.

The Kallithea spa has been popular since the ancient times for its therapeutic properties. They could treat arthritis, diabetes, malaria, allergies and other diseases. It is situated some miles from Rhodes Town.

In 1928 the first buildings were constructed above the thermal springs. At the end of the 20th century they fell in abandonment and neglect. They were restored and reopened by the Italians in 2007.

The Kalithea spa is a very nice place to spend some hours under the sun. There is a beach here.

At Kallithea spa there is a cafe where you can have some food and the toilets.

The beach at Anthony Quinn' s Bay is one of the few beaches I visited when I was in Rhodes Island. It is is a beautiful and small peeble beach. I have read it is not suitable to young children and elderly pepole, due to the presence of sharp rocks inside and out of the water.

It is situated on the east coast of Rhodes; around four km south of Faliraki and 15 kms from Rhodes Town.

After filming the Guns of Navarone; Anthony Quinn bought this bay to create an international center for artists and film makers. This purchase was later annulled by the government.

There is a restaurant nearby.

Lindos is probably one of the most popular villages on the island.

It is a car free town. Streets are too narrow for cars there. The only area where you can find cars and bikes is the town square. This is the only square in Lindos. Here you can find the tourist office, some cafes, restaurants and the taxi stop.

The only transportation option in town (except for taxis) are the donkeys. This is one of the ways to go to the Acropolis.

There are various buses going from Rhodes Town to Lindos and vice versa every day. They stop just uphil the town. I think the journey between Rhodes Town and Lindos should take around one hour

The acropolis is the main sight in Lindos.

I wasn' t impressed by this fortress. Probably because I know very little about ancient history.

The acropolis was built on a rock overlooking Lindos. It is surrounded by well preserved walls built by the knights (and later restored).

Inside the walls you can see several remains of ancient temples. They were restored by the Italians during their occupation of the island. When I visited this site it was still under construction.

There are two ways to reach the acropolis. One is by climbing lots of stairs. Another is going there by donkey.

I liked much the landscape from the acropolis. You can see most of the village from there.

Another wiev from the acropolis.

The church of Panagia is Lindos' main church. It was built in the 14th century. In 1489 it was restored. It is surrounded by a wall.

The walls inside the church are decorated with frescoes painted in the 19th century. These depict biblical scenes.

There are also frescoes on its vaulted roof. These were painted in 1779. Its floor is covered with a mosaic of small white and black peebles. This kind of decoration is called hohlaki.

Lindos has a big choice of shops and restaurants. Some of these have a roof terrace.

Lindos has two beautiful beaches linked by a path. They aren' t far from the town center but you have to climb down lots of stairs to get to them.

Lindos from afar.

The Rodini Park was probably the first landscaped park in the world.

Here you can see several peacocks walking free, turtles and some other animals. It is a good place to enjoy the nature. You can go to this park by bus from Rhodes Town.

Santorini or Thera is an island in the southern Aegean sea. It is part of the Cycladic Islands.

A couple of years ago, circa I went back to Santorini after many years.

The first time I visited Santorini I booked my room in Fira. This village is the capital of the island. It is a very touristy place. There are some museums and a couple of churches worth a visit there.

On my first holiday on the island one of the things I liked to do (usually in the evenings) was a long stroll from Fira to Imerovigli. I did the same stroll also on this holiday.

I took these three picture during one of these strolls on my last holiday in Santorini.

The Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Fira was built in 1823. It was restored and rebuilt in 1970 after the earthquake of 1956. It is really a beautiful church.

Here you see another picture taken into the catholic cathedral.

Another church worth da visit, or maybe more is the Ortodox Metropolitan Cathedral. It was built in 1827. It was damaged during the 1956 eartquake. It was then renovated.

Another picture taken inside this church.

There are some museums in Fira. One of these is the Museum of Prehistoric Thira. I had visited it on my first viit to Santorini and I re visited it on this holiday.

This museum houses a large collection of ancient finds as vases, weapons, jewels and fossil plants. These were discovered in Akrotiri, Potamos and other places on the island.

The highlight of the museum are the fragments of wall frescoes found in Akrotiri. They decpict various subjects as women, azure monkeys and naked fishermen.

As you can see these frescoes are well preserved despite of their old age.

The Argyros Mansion is a beautiful mansion worth a visit. It is located in Messaria. This villa belonged to Emmanuel Argyros; a trader of local wine. It was built in 1888. In 1956 it was partly destroyed by the earthquake. After more than 30 years it was restored and turned into a museum.

Inside this mansion you can see furniture and items from the 19th century.

During the guided tour (you are not allowed to visit the villa on you own) you will be showed the living room; a small music room. The dining room; the owner' s office and three bedrooms.

Oia, also called Ia, is one of the most popular destinations in Santorini.This is the most famous place to enjoy the sunset (a "must do thing" on the island).

Oia is situated on the northernmost area of the island. It is 11 kilometers far form Fira.

There are practically two streets in this village. One of these is long and marble paved,

There are lots of rock hewn houses and also captain' s buildings in Oia. These are now used as cafes, restaurants and shops.

Oia has several churches and a naval museum.

Part of Oia was rebuilt in a few years after the 1956 earthquake.

There is a popular bookshop in Oia. Its name is Atlantis Books, It was first opened in 2004. It was moved from 2005 in the building where it stands today.

This bookshop is quite small, but full of various kinds of book. Here you can find a good choice of English language books about Greek culture and history. At Atlantis Books they also sell rare first editions books and books in foreign languages.

Pyrgos is another village worth a visit in Santorini. It is situated around 7. 5 kilometers south east of Fira. It was built amphitheatrically on a hill, at the foot of Profitis Elias mountain.

One of the main sights in Pyrgos is the Kasteli. It is a fortress built arouns 1580 by the Venetians to defend the inhabitants from the invaders. There is a cafe restaurants inside the fortress.

There are lots of typical cave houses in Pyrgos as well.

Megalochori is a nice village where you will not find many tourists. There are not lots of shops and eateries there, but there are some hotels in case you' like to look for you accomodation in a quiet village.

Here you see part of the main square in Megalochori.

There is a lot of typical cave houses, a maze of streets and stairs in Megalochori, as in other villages on the island.

A nice spot in Megalochori.

Most of the beaches in Santorini are made of black sand and peebles. I have been to two of these on this holiday. I went at the beaches in Kamari and Perissa. I booked a room in Perissa.

On this picture you see part of the beach in Kamari.

Here is another picture taken at the beach in Kamari. This village is 10 kilometers from Fira; at the southe east coast. Here you' ll find a black sand and shingle beach. It is five kilometers long. There is a good choice of shops, cafes and restaurants nearby.

Perissa is a village about 13 kilometers from Fira; on the south east coast. It has a 7 kilometers long black beach. Being a tourist resort; as Kamari, there are lots of shops, cafes and eateries here as well.

This picture was taken at the beach in Perissa in the evening.

There are other villages to visit and things to do in Santorini. I hope to go there again quite soon.