| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | She determined the site for this by throwing her ring - |
| In the ancient world, Rhodes was seen as the island of | | | | the monastery was to be built where her ring was |
| the Sun God Helios, who crossed the firmament with | | | | found. The church is worth a visit due to its frescoes |
| his team every day. The bronze statue, the | | | | with scenes from the Old and New Testament, which |
| Colossus of Rhodes, was one of the Seven | | | | mainly originate from the 16th and 17th Century, |
| Wonders of the Ancient world. Today Rhodes with its | | | | although some date back to the early 14th Century. |
| 2000 year history is a fascinating mix of beaches, | | | | Kamiros |
| nature and testimonials. | | | | The ancient pottery town is admittedly one of the less |
| Rhodes City (Rhodes) | | | | important ancient sites on Rhodes, but is nevertheless |
| A walk through the old town of Rhodes is at the | | | | worth a visit. The picturesque Kamiros, nestled |
| same time a ramble through the thousands of years | | | | between green hills not far from the western coast of |
| of history of the city - from the Archaeological | | | | the island, is the smallest of the three ancient sites of |
| Museum with its ancient statues, graves and ceramics, | | | | Rhodes but lost its importance after the merger in 408 |
| you can go down Street of Knights to the Palace of | | | | BC of the separate site with the capital Rhodes City. |
| the Knights dating from the Middle Ages which has not | | | | Kamiros is a homogenous Hellenistic settlement whose |
| suffered any damage to the present day. Not far | | | | inhabitants were farmers and craftsmen, often potters |
| away you will find modern boutiques, bars and | | | | which gave Kamrios its far-reaching reputation as a |
| cafés which invite you to pass away the time and | | | | pottery town. Ceramics from Kamiros were exported |
| take a stroll. | | | | nearly everywhere in the world known at the time. |
| The formidable city walls from the 15th Century are an | | | | The architectural uniformity of the town is due to the |
| impressive sight. You can walk along part of them to | | | | fact that the entire town was completely rebuilt shortly |
| enjoy a wonderful view of Rhodes old town. The | | | | after a serious earthquake in 226 BC which flattened |
| Turkish quarter with its oriental mosques, in which time | | | | out the town. It was finally abandoned after another |
| seems to have stood still, is also worth seeing. In the | | | | earthquake in 142 BC, after which the population lost |
| tangle of small alleyways you will stumble again and | | | | their destroyed town. |
| again across quaint nooks and crannies, but the old | | | | Ataviros |
| town is at its most beautiful in the early evening when | | | | At 1,215 m, Ataviros is the highest mountain in Rhodes. |
| the dwindling sunlight lights up the streets of houses | | | | The ascent is extremely hard and you should allow |
| dating from the Middle Ages in gold. | | | | approximately 7 hours to get there and back and |
| Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) | | | | make sure that you have good footwear with you. It is |
| Butterfly Valley is a narrow, lush forested valley | | | | best to start the walk from the tiny village of Embona. |
| through which a beck runs - this idyll is ideal for walking | | | | The otherwise sparse mountain is covered in spring by |
| and taking a picnic. At its upper end there is an | | | | a gory sea of white and blue sage, light-blue |
| 18th-Century monastery which is worth a brief visit. | | | | anemones and pink rockroses - a sight to sweeten |
| Those visiting the valley, however, generally have other | | | | the tiring walk. If you can reach the summit, the |
| reasons. The Valley of the Butterflies is not | | | | breathtaking view of the island and the sea is worth it. |
| so-called for no reason - thousands and thousands of | | | | Here you can also see the scant remains of a Zeus |
| rare harlequin butterflies with their red and black wings | | | | Sanctuary from Mycenaean times. A gruesome |
| live here. It is, however, not always possible to see | | | | legend surrounds this - the altar is said to have been |
| them. You will mainly come across them in the | | | | designed in the form of a bronze bull in which people |
| summer months between June and August - in late | | | | were locked away. Then a fire was started and those |
| summer they lay eggs, in April the caterpillars hatch | | | | inside died a painful death. The priests of the sanctuary |
| which transform in June and spend the summer in the | | | | interpreted the screams and cries for help of those |
| valley. Why this species of butterfly has come to | | | | sacrificed as an oracle. Even today inhabitants of the |
| settle in this area of Rhodes can be explained by a | | | | village tell this story at the foot of the mountain. |
| botanical particularity - amber trees, whose aromatic | | | | Epta Piges |
| resin attracts the harlequin butterflies and on the bark | | | | The Seven Springs are a waterfall which is |
| of which they feed, only grow in this area of the | | | | formed from the meeting of several springs to irrigate |
| country. | | | | the Kolymbia plain. Here you will find a tavern which will |
| Lindos | | | | tempt you to while away long periods of time with its |
| A stay in Lindos in undoubtedly one of the high points | | | | tables under the shade of donated sycamores and |
| of a trip to Rhodes. The fact that this settlement has | | | | numerous peafowls which form a tryst. |
| been constantly inhabited since the ancient world is | | | | Epta Piges is a popular place for the residents of |
| unsurprising when you consider the scenic position of | | | | Rhodes, who like to bring picnics here, particularly in the |
| the village between the hills and the sea. The | | | | summer months. It is pleasantly cool here even in the |
| whitewashed houses form an arch around the hill, | | | | height of summer thanks to the water and close-by |
| which is crowned by the Acropolis surrounded by an | | | | pine forests. It is hardly surprising that legends claim this |
| enormous wall from the Middle Ages which can be | | | | place was a favourite with nymphs. A 150 m long |
| seen from the village. | | | | water tunnel links the beck to a lake. Only the |
| On the way to the Acropolis, you may easily get lost in | | | | courageous should take this route to the lake, since the |
| the maze of alleyways and in many places stumble | | | | tunnel is pitch black. For those less adventurous there |
| across well maintained silicic mosaic floors with | | | | is also an overground route, but it is slightly longer. Fans |
| splendid patterns. The so-called captain houses from | | | | of rare plants will also appreciate this area, as light-blue |
| the 18th Century, which are decorated with complex | | | | mandrakes, for example, grow here which have a |
| façades, are famous. At the excavated site at the | | | | human-like figure and are said to have had magical |
| highest point of the Acropolis you will find the Temple | | | | powers in the Middle Ages. |
| of Athena Lindia, which was meant to replace the old | | | | Embona |
| wooden temple and which was constructed in the 6th | | | | Embona is one of Rhodes' largest mountain villages |
| Century BC under the rule of Kleoboulos. Here, you | | | | and is the wine capital of the island. At the entrance to |
| can walk over the terraces, pass by an Exedra from | | | | the village you will find the Emery winery, which |
| the 3rd Century BC, through an impressive portico and | | | | produces excellent wines and can also be visited on |
| the gateway which forms the entrance to the holy | | | | weekdays - with wine tasting included, of course! Its |
| temple area. | | | | fame is due to the Athiri grape, which thrives |
| Thari Monastery (Moni Thari) | | | | wonderfully on the small terraces on the western |
| The Thari Monastery, a Byzantine gem, lies south of | | | | slopes of Ataviros and has been cultivated since |
| Laerma in the middle of the island. It is run by a few | | | | ancient times. Attempts to cultivate this type of grape |
| monks who have their own radio and TV programs. It | | | | outside Rhodes have always failed. |
| was empty until well into the 1980s when Abbot | | | | Due to its famous wine, the village has been taken |
| Amfilodios first gave it a new lease of life. The | | | | over by mass tourism. Not a day goes by without the |
| monastery goes back to the 13th Century and was | | | | arrival of coaches of tourists. Many of the local |
| built on the site of an even older building. | | | | taverns offer Greek evenings with folklore dance |
| The basic legend says that a Byzantine princess from | | | | shows. Those wishing to have a slightly quieter visit to |
| Constantinople suffered from an incurable illness and | | | | Embona should take a short walk to the quieter and |
| almost died alone in the woods of Rhodes. The mild | | | | more traditional part of the village where you can buy |
| climate and the bubbling springs in the area cured her | | | | rugs and weaved goods which are made in nearly |
| and she founded a monastery to show her thanks. | | | | every house in Embona. |