Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
Located
only seven miles from the Turkish coast, Rhodes is one of Greece’s
favored vacation centers.
In ancient times, the entrance to its harbor featured a celebrated
landmark, the Colossus of Rhodes. The 105-foot statue rose from a
35-foot stone base and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the
ancient world. Rhodes was an important cultural center with a well-known
School of Rhetoric attended by such greats as Cicero and Caesar. From a
school for sculptors came the famous Laocoon group, which is now in the
Vatican Museum.
Rhodes' most famous attractions originated with the Knights of St. John,
who occupied parts of the island from 1310 to 1522. As their legacy they
left a medieval town, dominated by the Palace of the Grand Masters and
the Knights' Hospital.
Rhodes has inspired many artists; it’s not uncommon to come across a
painter at work in one of the shady squares. The Old Town also offers
plenty of shopping opportunities and a lively nightlife.
Not far from the city stands Mount Filerimos, where a church has been
built on the site of an ancient temple. A popular excursion is to the
charming village of Lindos. Its premier attraction, the ancient
acropolis, stands at the top of sheer cliffs. Walls of a 13th-century
CrUSAder castle enclose the site. Excavations at the beginning of this
century brought to light a plaque inscribed by a priest of Athena in 99
B.C. listing the dignitaries who visited the Temple of the Lindian
Athena - Hercules, Helen of Troy, Menelaus, Alexander the Great, and
the King of Persia. Today, the winding path up to the acropolis is
lined by stalls where locals sell lace tablecloths and a wide range of
souvenirs. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |
Complimentary
Spirits Await |
Return to Your
Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure |
Entertainment
and Dancing Await You |