The City of Rhodes
The capital, also called Rhodes, occupies the northernmost tip of
the island. There are actually three cities on this site - modern,
ancient and mediaeval. The modern town has a cosmopolitan character,
many late 20th century buildings and hotels.
The ancient town, which was founded in 408 BC according to plans by
Hippodamos of Milesios (the first town planner), started from Monte
Smith hill where the acropolis stood and extended as far as what is
now the mediaeval city. All that left of it today is the ruins of
the temples of Zeus, Athena Poliados and Apollo, the Stadium, Gymnasium
and the Theatre, which has been restored. The mediaeval city is still
surrounded by the high walls erected by the Knights. It is divided
by an inner wall into two unequal parts, the smaller Collachio and
the larger Burgo or Hora. Collachio is further split by the Street
of the Knights, both of whose sides are lined with the sombre stone
facades of the Inns of the Tongues or nationalities that belonged
to the order of the Knights Hospitalers of St. John.
At the end of the street stands the palace of the Grand Masters, which
today houses a collection of 16th and 17th century furniture and Roman
mosaic floors from Kos. The Hospital of the Knights, another of the
town's most magnificent buildings, has been converted to the Archaeological
Museum. Burgo / Hora lies to the south of Collachio; its walls once
enclosed the humbler residences, the marketplace, the Synagogue and
Jewish quarter Orthodox and Catholic churches, public buildings and
army barracks. |
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The Old City
Rhodes Walls |
