Mediterrana

RHODES (also Rhodos) is the largest island in the Dodecanese. It has the area of 1400 km2 and the population of 117.007 inhabitants. The island lies 18 km west off the Turkish shores, between the Greek mainland and the island of Cyprus.

The capital is Rhodes city with 54.000 inhabitants.

The island enjoys mild climate with only two seasons: spring and summer.The average temperature in July is 26°C and 11°C in January. The annual insulation is 300 days a year.

The island was first inhabited in the Neolithic period. In the 16th century BC the Mionian came to the island however the island started to flourish when in 11th century the arrival of Dorians. It was conquered by the Persians but they were defeated by Athens in 478 BC when the city joined the Athenain League. During the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC the island remained neutral although being a part of the League.

In 332 BC Rhodes became part of the Alexander the Great Empire and became famous for its schools of literature, science, rhetoric and philosophy. In 305 BC, Antigonus had his son, Demetrius, besieged Rhodes in an attempt to break its alliance with Egypt. Demetrius created huge siege engines. However, despite this engagement, in 304 BC, he signed a peace agreement, leaving behind a huge store of military equipment.

The locals sold the equipment and used the money to erect a statue of Helios, their god o the statue now known as Colossus of Rhodes also one of the seven wonders of the worlds. In 164 BC, Rhodes signed a treaty with Rome, and became a major schooling center for Roman noble families, and was especially noted for its teachers of rhetoric.

At the beginning the island was an important ally of Rome and enjoyed numerous privileges, but these were later lost in various machinations of Roman politics. Cassius eventually invaded the island and sacked the city. In the 1st century AD, the Emperor Tiberius spent a brief term of exile on Rhodes, and Saint Paul brought Christianity to the island. In the following centuries the island was then under the ruling powers of Rome, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Emipre, Italians and then in 1948 finally united with Greece. 

Being influenced by so many different cultures it is not a surprise that island has a rich cultural heritage. The medieval Old Town of Rhodes city was also enlisted on UNESCO World Heritage List. As mentioned earlier Rhodes was home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world – the Colossus of Rhodes. The giant bronze statue once stood in the harbour but was destroyed in 224 BC by an earthquake. The historical sites include the Acropolis of Lindos, Acropolis of Rhodes, The Temple of Apollo, ancient lalysos, Kamiros, Governor’s Palace, Palace of Grand Masters, Kahal Shalom Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, the Archaeological Museum, the ruins of the castle Monolithos, the castle of Kirtinia and St. Catherine Hospice.  

The Diagoras International Airport is located 16km west of Rhodes City in the town of Paradisi and is connected with major European cities. Rhodes city is a also major port with sea links not only to Athens, Crete, and the islands of the Aegean, but also to Cyprus, Turkey, and Israel. In late spring and summer, there are daily catamaran service to Kos, Tilos, Nissiros, and Simi, and other popular tourist destinations.  

There is a great variety of traditional dishes in Rhodes which will satisfy the most demanding gourmet. The typical dishes found on the island are hilopites (pasta with tomato sauce or meat), mousaka (oven baked dish with potatoes, aubergines and béchamel), pitaroudia (typical dish for the village of Afantou) and local sweets such as baklava, kataifi and belekounia.