Rhodes is the 3rd largest island in Greece, the two largest being Crete and Euboea. It is about 80k long and 38k wide and consists of 42 villages, it is known for its beach resorts, ancient ruins and remnants of its occupation by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. The city of Rhodes has an Old Town featuring the medieval Street of the Knights and the castlelike Palace of the Grand Masters.
We drove through the resort area of Faliraki, a village and seaside resort on the east coast known for its long sandy beach and lively nightlife. Our first stop was the gorgeous town of Lindos on the east coast. This is about an hours drive from Rhodes town and is known for its clifftop acropolis, an short uphill through narrow cobbled streets from the main carpark. Lindos is also home to some of Rhodes most beautiful beaches.
Back to Rhodes Old Town for a cruise around the port where the Colossus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, is said to have stood, straddling the harbour. The Colossus was destroyed in an earthquake in 226BC and now the harbour entrance is marked by two charming Rhodian deer sculptures.
The next day we took a ferry to the picturesque Symi island. The port of Symi was once a very important location for trade and was noted for its sponges which provided much of its wealth.
Later in the week we went on a tour of the west side of the island and visited the Filerimos Monastry, climbed up to Kritinia castle and had lunch in the pretty village of Ixia. During this tour we were able to see the devastation caused by the fire earlier in 2023 although this mainly affected the south eastern side of the island.
