A tour of the Medieval City is a living history lesson for the visitor. The city atmosphere is modern and touristic, but at the same time, it has a unique medieval aroma and a sense of nobility.
The city acquired its form mainly by the Knights of the Order of St. John who owned the city and many other islands of the Dodecanese from 1309, until 1522 when finally became a part of the Ottoman empire.
When was the Palace of the Grand Master built?
The most important monument and attraction of Rhodes is the Palace of the Grand Master. It was originally built during Byzantine times (7th century) as a Byzantine acropolis and then was almost completely rebuilt by the Knights of St. John in the early 14th century.
The knights maintained a great part of the walls and added various new buildings so that it became the residence of the Grand Master and the administrative center of the city. The great siege of 1522 by the Ottomans left it intact, due to its solid construction, but unfortunately, it suffered many damages due to a great explosion at the church of St. John.
The Italian conquerors, in 1940, rebuilt the castle, trying to keep as much as possible its original form. In recent years, it has been maintained and modernized by the Greek Government in order to host the EEC Summit in 1988, while today it hosts exhibitions and important cultural events.
What does someone can see around the Grand Master Palace?
The Grand Master Palace is located at the end of Knights Street, opposite the church of Agios Ioannis. The road that leads to the Palace of the Grand Master, Knights Street, is the most important street in Rhodes Medieval City. With a length of 200 meters and a width of 6 meters, it hosts on its sides the houses of the Knights with their coats of arms that adorn the exterior of the house above the main entrance.
Near the beginning of the road someone can see the first hospital and the arsenal of the Knights, as well as the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Also, along the road there is the Church of the Holy Trinity that dates from the 15th century.