Jim and Lisa in Rhodes
for their first of many anniversaries
Colossus of Rhodes
one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world
The Colossus of Rhodes was the statue of the Greek god Helios. It was the tallest statue in the ancient world, but it was destroyed by an earthquake about 55 years after it was built. "But even lying on the ground, it is a marvel", said Pliny the Elder. It took 12 years to build and was finished in 282 BC by Chares of Lindos. The people of Rhodes were called Colossians after the statue.
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The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a palace in the town of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes in Greece. The palace was built in the 14th century by the Knights of Rhodes (now officially known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta), who occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1522. After the island was captured by the Ottoman Empire, the palace was used as a fortress.
The original palace was largely destroyed by an ammunition explosion in 1856. When the Kingdom of Italy occupied Rhodes in 1912, the Italians rebuilt the palace in a grandiose pseudo-medieval style as a holiday residence for Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, and later for Benito Mussolini, whose name can still be seen on a large plaque near the entrance.
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Map of the northern tip of Rhodes where the old city was
located
Historic Rhodes Walking Tour - RH01
Best explored by foot, the Old Town of Rhodes is an eclectic collection of historic influences that can be best discovered at a slow pace. Starting from the ship, your guide will escort you to the entrance to the Old Town. You'll pass through one of the turreted gateways and by the Agora and the Collachium, where the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem lived and worked, building a stronghold of Christendom in the Eastern Mediterranean. Remaining remarkably intact, the Old Town houses the churches, marble coat of arms of the Knights, canon balls, Jewish quarter, the Inns of the Knights, and most impressive, the restored Palace of the Grand Masters. You'll tour the interior of the palace as your guide points out the 14th century beginnings of the Central Courtyard and chambers decoratively built with colonnades and adorned with Hellenistic and early Christian mosaics. You will continue down the Street of the Knights, its paths paved with colorful marble and superb mosaics, past medieval towers and emblazoned facades. You will visit the Hospital of the Knights that is now a museum.
Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 2 miles over even and uneven surfaces with some inclines and more than 80+ steps. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Time permitting; guests will have approximately 30 minutes of free time for shopping and browsing along Sokrate's Street before assembling back at the Marine Gate where your guide will escort you back to the ship.
The once powerful ancient city of Lindos is located on the islands eastern shoreline, 47 km from the city of Rhodes. Your tour will begin with a drive past the walls of Old Rhodes and through the modern city. Continuing southward along the coast, you will observe little villages, orange and lemon groves, vineyards, and gnarled old olive trees. The 4th century BC Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, a double-winged portico, a Byzantine church, and the fortifications of the Knights, including the remains of the Governor's quarters, dominate the Acropolis. Once you've climbed to the top of the Acropolis, you will enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding coast, including St. Paul's Bay where the Apostle is said to have landed. Below the Acropolis, you will see the old, whitewashed houses and the narrow streets of this most delightful town. Its beauty has inspired artists and writers for many years. You will find many little shops selling tourist souvenirs, such as small ceramic items or beautiful crocheted linen. You will return quayside in Rhodes via the same route.
Note: The village of Lindos is pedestrian-only; guests will be required to walk 1 mile over even and cobblestone surfaces built on an incline. To reach the Lindos Acropolis you must climb 292 steps. Guests may be required to wait in long lines to enter some of the popular sites. Guests with any physical restrictions are kindly requested to take this into consideration. Time permitting; you will have approximately 45 minutes of free time for shopping and browsing while in Lindos. The drive to/from Rhodes is approximately 1 hour each way, dependent upon traffic conditions.
Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Jerusalem
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