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| Map of Rhodes |
Rhodes(Rodos),
the biggest island
of Dodecanese islands
with 1.401km2 and 115.500 population, is deservedly among the most
visited of all Greek islands. Its star attraction is the beautiful medieval Old Town
that lies at the heart of its capital, Rhodes Town
- a legacy of the crusading Knights of St John, who used the island as their
main base from 1309 until 1522. The ravishing hillside village of Lindhos,
topped by an ancient acropolis, is another worth visiting place. It marks the
midpoint of the island's long eastern shoreline, adorned with numerous sandy
beaches that have attracted considerable resort development. At the southern
cape, Prassonisi is one of the best
windsurfing spots in Europe.
Rhodes Town
By far the
largest town on the island, Rhodes Town straddles its northernmost headland, in full
view of Turkey
less than 20km north. The ancient city that occupied this site, laid out during
the fifth century BC by Hippodamos of Miletos, was almost twice the size of its
modern counterpart, and at 100.000 held more than double its population.
While the
fortified enclave now known as the Old Town is of more recent construction,
created by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century, it' one of the finest
medieval walled cities. It gets overcrowded with day-trippers in high season,
but at night it's quite magical, and well worth an extended stay.
