Rhodes Island
Gulet cruises from / to Rhodes Island
Rhodes (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek), lies between Crete and the near East in the Aegean ocean. Rhodes is the biggest of the Dodecanese islands. Named the sun island or island of light there are hardly any days when the sun doesn't shine. With its subtropical climate and over 3.000 hours of sun per year you can be guaranteed a good tan on your holiday. Rhodes is one of the most popular holiday islands in Greece - even Greeks themselves come to Rhodes for a holiday from the mainland.
Rhodes today offers the visitor a plethora of all year round leisure alternatives, covering all types of tourist activity. The natural beauty of the island, the monuments from her long and often turbulent history, a rodosmopolitan character, as well as the warm hospitality generously offered by the people of Rhodes, and an excellent tourist infrastructure boasting the most modern hotels, all captivate the visitor.
The modern city of Rhodes is one of the biggest municipalities in the Greek islands, with about sixty thousand permanent residents. It is the financial and cultural centre of the southeastern Aegean, and successfully combines a lively present with a rich historical past. There are many reasons why Rhodes is one of the most popular resorts in the Mediterranean: the natural surroundings (crystal clear seas, many parks and recreational facilities), the bright sun and the warm hospitality of the islanders themselves.
The city has an excellent tourist infrastructure and offers a wide variety of entertainment (night-life, sports, cultural events, and day trips to wonderful Lindos and the neighboring islands like Kos, Patmos, Karpathos, Kalymnos and Leros). Finally, visitors have the opportunity to learn something of the eventful history of the city, visit the museums or go sightseeing.
HOW TO REACH RHODES ISLAND
During the high season there are charter flights departing from many major cities of Europe to (and from) the National Airport of Kos Hippocrates.
Coming from Bodrum ; There are ferries between operated by ferry companies. Bodrum Ferryboat Association has daily trips between Kos and Bodrum throughout the summer. In winter, ferries run three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The ferryboat leaves Bodrum at 09:00 and returns from Kos at 16:30. The Bodrum-Kos trip takes about 1 hours. The same association also runs a hydrofoil during the summer months everyday except Sunday.
WHICH SEASON IS THE BEST
July and August days are long and hot and the nights are warm. June, the beginning of July and all of September offer a better combination, with warm days and cool evenings. The water in September can be especially warm in places. The months of May and October offer excellent sailing conditions.
HISTORY OF RHODES ISLAND
Strategically placed, the island has had a tumultous past linked to the sea. Rhodes was inhabited alredy in prehistoric times. The island gradually expanded its influence and became the main commercial link in the Mediterranean. In 408 BC the island's three important Doric cities Ialissos, Lindos and Kamiros united to found the city of Rhodes on the island's northeastern edge. This marked a new era in the history of the island. The Sun-worshipping city of Rhodes (Rhodos) became an important political, commercial and religious centre. Its golden era lasted from the 5th to the 3rd century BC. It was during this period that the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was constructed and straddled the harbour. This impressive giant statue was demolished during an earthquake. During 150 years the island flourished and showed its great navigation and maritime skills, establishing one of the best reputations in these domains. Rhodes extended its rule, minted its own coin, introduced the first maritime law rules, advanced the arts, theatre and sports. Its School of Rhetoric became famous and attracted many well-known Romans and Greeks. In the 2nd century BC Rhodos became an ally of Rome; this led to a gradual weakening of the island, which from the 4th century AD became a Roman prefecture. St. Paul visited the island and recruited the first Christians in 57 AD; as in 395 AD the Roman Empire split, Rhodos and the other islands of the "Provincia insularum" were included in the Byzantine Empire. New seafarers attacked and often looted the city in the following centuries. The Knights of the Order of St. John were estab-lished in Rhodes in 1309 AD. Their stay has endowed the city with a series of majestic buildings protected by a fortified wall. From 1522 onwards the Dodecanese islands form part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912 AD, when they fell under Italian rule. The Treaty of Paris ended foreign occupation, and in March 1948 the islands were united with Greece.
SIGHTSEEING
- Old medieval town
- Mosque of Suleiman
- The Castellania
- St. Catherine's hospital
- The admiralty palace
- Folk Dance Theatre
- The New Market
- The archbishop's Palace
- The Evangelismos Church
- Town Hall
- Theatre and Government House
- Murad Reis Mosque
- Institute of Marine Biology
- The Acropolis of Ancient Rhodes
- The Ancient Cemetery of Agios Ioannis (Saint John)
- The Archaeological site of Ancient Kameiros
- The Archaeological site and the Acropolis at Lindos
- The site of Ancient Ialysos