Rhodes Old Town

The Medieval Town of Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes in Greece. It is one of the best-preserved medieval fortified towns in Europe, built by the Knights Hospitaller between 1309 and 1522 over earlier Byzantine foundations. The town is enclosed by walls about four kilometres long, with towers, bastions, a deep dry moat and several gates, including the Gate of d'Amboise and Gate of the Sea. Inside, the cobbled Street of the Knights climbs toward the Palace of the Grand Masters, a restored fortress with mosaic floors and furnished halls, and the inns of the knights' tongues line the lane in honey-coloured stone. The lower town includes the Archaeological Museum in the former Hospital of the Knights, Socrates Street with its bazaar shops, the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Hurmali Medresesi, the clock tower and the Jewish Quarter with its Kahal Shalom synagogue. The Ottoman and Italian periods left additional layers visible in street fronts, fountains and public squares. A half day covers the Street of the Knights, the Palace and a walk through the Turkish quarter, while a full day allows time for the museum, the walls and a long lunch. Walking the top of the wall during limited hours gives views across rooftops and the harbour of Mandraki, with sunset a favourite time for photography. Cruise-ship days bring heavy crowds from late morning, so early morning and evening are calmer. Streets are paved in smooth pebbles and can be slippery, and sturdy shoes are advised. Many shops, restaurants and small hotels operate inside the walls.