Travel Guide Rhodes Ville

The medieval city lies at the very heart of Rhodes-ville: surrounded by the new town and the port, it is fortified by impressive walls pierced by large gates. The most majestic of these is the Porte d'Amboise, the main entrance to the city. Passing through these fortifications instantly transports the traveler back to the time of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, its most renowned occupants. But other layers of a turbulent past soon emerge. Today, the city is one of the most precious jewels of the Mediterranean basin: it has survived the centuries, nourished by the varied influences of successive occupations, before coming down to us, rich in a thousand years of history.You'll discover a very special atmosphere, rich in thousands of stories, and you'll admire 14th-century palaces, Ottoman mosques, Byzantine churches, enjoy lively little squares, discover the Jewish quarter and its beautiful synagogue... A mix of East and West, of unequalled richness.In the new town, concrete dominates. But the Italian occupation (1912-1943) marked a golden era for the architecture and urban planning of the town at the gateway to the medieval city. The Italians had time to carry out extensive conservation work and excavations. In the new town, we owe them the preservation of old neoclassical residences, in the colorful style typical of the 19th century. The large administrative and public buildings dating from the Fascist period lend a certain charm to the new town, which is also teeming with life, and will be of interest to architecture enthusiasts. It's in these quarters that you'll find the authentic Rhodes, that of the locals. The capital's top hotels are to be found in this part of town, as are the best restaurants, the biggest stores and places to go out and have fun, such as the casino in the historic Grand Hotel des Roses. This is also where you'll find the seemingly endless beaches of the modern city.