This Greek island is located around 11 miles (18 kilometers) southwest Turkey. Rhodes (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek) is between the Crete Island and the near east of the Aegean Sea; it is part of the Dodecanese group of islands. The island has 117 007 inhabitants, 53 709 of them resided in the capital city of Rhodes. Its climate is subtropical and has over 3000 hours of sun per year, therefore; it is one of the most popular tourist destinations amongst the Greek Islands.
The island has still several unspoiled villages that kept their authentic colors and old appearance, amongst them Lalyssos, Kamiros and Lindos. Rhodes has also several and varied landscapes from arid terrains in the coastline to lush forests inside the island.
Rhodes is a city with 24 centuries of history. Its medieval aspect, fortified behind and impressive wall coexist harmoniously with the cosmopolitan, nice environment of a modern resort as well as luxurious hotels, broad avenues and rich malls.
The city has been world famous from centuries ago by the Colossus of Rhodes, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nevertheless, the history of the city began several centuries before the construction of the famous statue. Rhodes was inhabited from the Neolithic period. The first civilization that occupied Rhodes was the Minoans. In the XV century BC, the island was invaded by the Achaeans but the island started its development in the XI century when Dorians ruled.
The city was later invaded by Persians, but they was expulsed by Athens’s army in 478 BC. In 357 the island was conquered by the Persian satrapy Mausollos of Caria (the owner of the famous tombs that was considered one of the wonders of the world). But the Persian domain lasted few years because in 332 Alexander the Great the famous king of Macedon defeated Persians and recovered Rhodes for the Greeks.
After Alexander’s death its generals Ptolemy, Seleucus and Antigonus divided the great Empire of Alexander. The inhabitants of Rhodes formed an important cultural commercial alliance with Ptolemy of Alexandria known as the Rhodo-Egyptian alliance, which controlled all the trade in the Aegean Sea during the III century. In this period the city has a great apogee with its famous schools of rhetoric, literature, science and philosophy.
Because of the control of the Aegean Sea Antigonus and his son Demetrius besiege the island to break it alliance with Ptolemy. But, Rhodes resisted and a ships fleet by Ptolemy defeated the invaders. Therefore to commemorate this victory the citizens of Rhodes decided to build the famous Colossus.
During the Roman time Rhodes became an important schooling center to the Roman noble families, reaching its zenith in the III century AD. After the Roman Empire’s division the city was part of Byzantine Empire and then it was invaded by different forces like Muslims and knights crusaders. During the medieval period many important monuments such as The Palace of the Grand Master were constructed, which give to Rhodes until today the appearance of a medieval city.
In 1522 Rhodes was conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent and the island became part of the Ottoman Empire for the next four centuries. In 1912 Italians took the control of Rhodes and in 1948 once finished the World War II the island became part of the current Republic of Greece.
Rhodes is today a tourist city with very hospitable people that offers to visitors a great variety of activities and an excellent infrastructure. There are many tourist attractions like The Archbishop palace, the Annunciation church, the central post Office, the Theatre, the Government house, picturesque neighborhoods, wonderful beaches and modern buildings. In abstract Rhodes is a magnificent island full of beauties and charming.