7/5/2011 Rhodes/Ibiscus, Old Town-Walking the walls, Palace of the Grand Master, Archaeological Museum, Street of the Knights, dinner at Karpatho's

Breakfast is pretty much the same.  I have my one egg over easy, toast, juice, coffee.  Maybe fruit and/or pastry/donut.






OLD TOWN.  We leave at 9:30 am walking to Old Town.  Has been inhabited for more than 2400 years.  A city was first built here in 408 B C and when the Knights of St. John arrived in 1309 they built their citadel over these ancient remains.  The Knights' medieval citadel, dominated by the towers of the Palace of the Grand Masters, forms the center of the Old Town.  The new town lies beyond the original walls.  Of the walls' 11 gates, Koskinou/St. John's gate which leads into the Bourg quarter has the best view.  I believe we entered walking from new town through the gate of Eleftherios.  Not 100% sure though.

Postcard

Mickey Ds!!

Entrance

Map

We start here

This is the moat but it has no water in it now

We enter through this gate

WALLS.    We buy tickets for 2€ each to walk the walls.  Can only do this certain days, specific time.  The entrance to the walls/fortifications is next to the Grand Masters Palace.  Built by the Knights Hospitaller of St. John by enhancing the existing Byzantine walls starting from 1309 the year in which the Knights took possession of the island.  The defense of different portions of the fortifications were assigned to different languages of the Knights.  The North face was under the rule of the Grand Master.  Then moving West and South the posts were held by the language of France and Alvernia, the language of Spain-Spanish and Portuguese, the language of Germany-English and German, and the language of Italy.  The walls are mostly still original from the medieval times of the Knights Hospitaller.  The views were amazing.

Admission ticket

Up to where we will walk on the walls

View from the walls

Exit

PALACE OF GRAND MASTER.  Originally a 7th century Byzantine citadel the palace is a great example of gothic architecture.  In the 11th century this religious military order was founded in Jerusalem.  Originally known as the Hospiitallers the order was made up of a celibate brotherhood of knights who served under a Grand Master elected for life.  This order still exists today.  After the fall of Jerusalem in 1291 they moved to Cyprus before conquering Rhodes in 1309.   Eventually the knights couldn't hold off the Ottoman empire and they retreated to Sicily.  This palace remains as a trace of their time on Rhodes.

Admission 6€ per person.  You enter through a large arched doorway that leads out into an enormous courtyard where statues from the Greek and Roman period stand.  Entering the palace itself you see a huge stone stairway.  To the right is a room with windows with sheets of alabaster instead of glass.  Walking up the staircase you will find lavish rooms but only a few are open to the public.  Beautiful carved seats, mosaics, wall hangings, faded hand-woven textiles from medieval times, and several oriental vases that look out of place.

Palace of the Grand Master-twin horseshoe shaped towers with swallowtail turrets

Admission ticket

Entrance-coat of arms Grand Master del Villeneuve  

Central courtyard-palace built around this courtyard paved with geometric marble tiles; north side lined with Hellenistic statues taken from the Odeion in Kos

Going up the staircase

Mosaic

Laocoon Chamber-copy of the sculpture of the death of the Trojan Laocoon and his sons; 1st century BC original is in the Vatican

Medusa Chamber-mythical Gorgon Medusa with hair of snakes centerpiece of this late Hellenistic mosaic; chamber also has Chinese and Islamic vases

Chamber with Colonnades-5th century AD early Christian mosaic

Looking down to the central courtyard

Going down the staircase

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM.  Admission 6€ per person.  Housed in the Gothic Hospital of the Knights.  Built in 1440-1481.  Most famous exhibit is 1st century BC marble Aphrodite of Rhodes.

Admission ticket

Entrance

2nd century BC head of Helios, Sun God-god of the island Rhodes

STREET OF THE KNIGHTS/ODOS IPPOTON.  One of the highlights of the medieval town.  Well preserved cobble paved street-an ancient straight road that connected the port with the Acropolis of Rhodes.  The harbor was where the Knights would muster in times of attack.  Along the street the 7 inns were constructed in the early 16th century representing the 7 countries or tongues/languages that the Knights of the Order of St. John originated from.  Each facade is decorated with emblems and details that reflect the respective country.  The finest is Auberge de France built between 1492 and 1503.  Next to it is the chapel of the same name with the lovely statue of Virgin Mary and the holy infant.   Most of the Grand Masters were French so their influence on the architecture was considerable.  Stonemasons and craftsmen were for the most part Greek but workers from France and Spain were also brought here.  These buildings are where the holy warriors would spend their time in prayer or military practice.

Inn of Italy

Inn of Italy-marble escutcheon with the arms of the Grand Master Fabricius del Carretto

Inn of France-armorial bearings are the French royal flour-de-lys and those of Grand Master Petrus d'Amboise

Chapel of the same name with statue of Virgin Mary and holy infant

Agia Triada/French Chapel

Inn of Provence-coats of arms set in the wall representing the Order of the Knights of St. John, the Royal House of France, Grand Master del Carretto, and the Knight de Flota

Information panels

Inn of Spain is one of the largest inns;  small and simple coat of arms of the Spanish Tongue/language

At the end here was a photo store where I bought a memory card for my camera 8€

We walk back to our hotel a different way by the water.  See some interesting sights.  Temple of Aphrodite.  Have some time to relax and enjoy the pool.  Sit on the balcony and watch people at the beach.

We're walking here

Medieval windmills and 15th century fortress Agios Nikolaos

Bronze stag

Bronze doe

Rhodes Aquarium

Elli Beach view from our balcony

Pool is small but fine to cool off a bit

We decide to drive back to Old Town as when walking earlier we saw a car park.  We parked our car there for 5€.  I want to visit the mosques.  Unfortunately I didn't do my research on open/close times.  The mosque I wanted to see is closed-Mosque of Suleiman.  The Muslim Library is also closed. Instead of returning to our hotel after the Street of the Knights we should have visited the mosques and the library.

Mosque of Suleiman

Closes at 4:00 pm

Muslim Library

Closes at 3:00 pm

Postcard

KARPATHO'S.  Dinner.  Tradition dictates we have pizza wherever we travel so we order a Greek salad to share and a margherita pizza.  Drinks-coke and ice water with lemon.  Cost without tip 16.60€.  Food hit the spot.  Service was good despite being so busy.  Since it's so late we get to admire our surroundings lit up for the evening.

Ipokratous Fountain located in the square of the same name

Leaving to go to our car

Think this is Marine Gate-main route into the Old Town from the commercial harbor; think this is the way we entered also; or it could be St. Catherine's Gate!

Back at our hotel.   Time for a bubble bath.  Pack for our flight back to Athens tomorrow.  Then we sit on the balcony and drink that complimentary bottle of red wine from the hotel!