Rhodes Beaches

Rhodes preserves heavenly beaches around the island. The clear water of Aegean Sea combines with the picturesque hills, unique landscape along its coast, beautiful sun, and friendly weather create Rhodes a sought paradise existing on earth. Some said that if you want to know what the heaven will look like after you die, then come to visit Rhodes. The enchanting beaches in Rhodes have been widely known through centuries, and hence the raison d'être why this island was being contested ages ago. Its nature’s beauty and wealth accommodate the largest financial source to its locals. This comes to a maximum extent after UNESCO appointed Rhodes as the World Heritage Preservation Site for the wide-ranging value of its historical monuments and remnants. This prompts an international recognition and consideration to witness this marvelous paradise on a visit or more.
There is an array of 42 beautiful beaches surrounding the island of Rhodes, but the top-ten list of most favorite beaches include Lindos Beaches, Faliraki, Prassonissi, Affandou, Ladiko Anthony Quinn, Ialissos, Lardos, Elli, Kallithea, and Akti Miaoulli. Lindos is adjacent to three popular beaches which are Lindos Beach Limanaki Agios Pavlos, Lindos Beach Palace, and Lindos Beach Megali Paralia. These three beaches provide crystal-blue water, golden sand, the sight of Lindos unique village and the Acropolis on the hill top. The small bay of St. Paul (Agios Pavlos) was the first Christianity base in Lindos when St. Paul landed and addressed his preaches here circa 43AD, and in the 13th Century the Knights of Rhodes built the Orthodox Chapel of St. Paul to accolade his exertion. This chapel is now popular for its wedding venue for both locals and guests who wish to get married there. Prassonissi consists of wide and long beach separating two turquoise coves, and is situated at the southern tip of this Rhodes Island. Due to its nature’s landscape, the wind blows barrier-less which is perfect for the wind-surf and kite-surf addicts particularly within July and August. Its sandy beach and shallow water present the comfortable swimming activities. Ladiko Anthony Quinn is a small cove surrounded by sea coral, lush vegetation and hills giving the impression of secluded paradise. Its crystal clear water and underwater scenery are perfect for snorkeling and diving especially during summer time for its sea water is warmer than any other seasons. The movie-star Anthony Quinn bought this cove when his movie "The Guns of Navarone" took its filming production in this location.

Special Olympics Rhodes

The Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 will be held from 20 June to 24 June 2011, and hosted by the Island of Rhodes before the Games are started in Athens. During their stay in Rhodes, the delegates from 185 countries will be entertained with the beautiful and magnificent ambiences of Rhodes, as well as to enjoy the artistic events, local cuisines and cultural experiences. Around ten thousands athletes, officials, and coaches will be hosted in thirty villages and islands in Rhodes. This program is supported by thirteen Greece regions for their accommodations and the host event.

Nearly 7.500 delegates will participate in 27 Olympic disciplines divided into venues as follows:

• OAKA (Athens Olympic Sports Complex) : Athletics, Swimming (Aquatics), Basketball, Powerlifting, Tennis, Volleyball
• Hellinikon Olympic Complex : Badminton, Handball, MATP (Motor Activity Training Program), Young Athletes, Cycling, Softball, Gymnastic Artistic, Gymnastic Rhythmic, Football 5-aside, Football 7-aside
• SEF (Peace and Friendship Stadium) : Beach Volleyball, Bocce, Roller Skating, Table Tennis
• Independent Venues : Bowling, Equestrian, Football 11-aside, Golf, Judo, Kayaking, Aquatics “Open Water Swimming”, Sailing, Athletics Marathon, Half Marathon, Unity Sports Event.
The schedule of the Olympic Sports will be opened on June 25, 2011, and the closing is on July 4, 2011. The opening and the closing will take place at Panathenaikon Stadium of Athens. The first game to be started on Day-1 (25 June) is Basketball at OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall. On Day-2 (26 June), the games to be initially played are Athletics at OAKA Olympic Stadium, Aquatics at the indoor pool of OAKA Olympic Aquatic Center, Basketball at OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall, Tennis at Olympic Tennis Center, Volleyball at G. Kasimatis Hall of Olympic Stadium, Badminton at Hellinikon Fencing Hall 1, Handball at Hellinikon Fencing Hall 2, Cycling at Hellinikon Olympic Softball Venue, Gymnastic Artistic at Hellinikon Olympic Indoor Hall, Football 5-aside at Hellinikon Olympic Hockey Venue, Football 7-aside at Hellinikon Olympic Baseball Venue, Bocce at SEF Sport Training Hall, Roller Skating at SEF Main hall, Table Tennis at SEF Sport Training Halls 2 and SEF Main Hall, Bowling at Blanos Sports Park-Spalta, and Football-11 aside at Ag. Kosmas Sports Center. The Powerlifting will be started on Day-3 (27 June) at OAKA Olympic Velodrome, Young Athletes on Day-8 (2 July) at Hellinikon Fencing Hall 2, MATP to be held on Day-9 (3 July) at Hellinikon Fencing Hall 2, Softball to be initially competed on Day-3 (27 June) at Hellinikon Olympic Softball Venue, Gymnastic Ryhthmic on Day 3 (27 June) at Hellinikon Olympic Indoor Hall, Gymnastic Rhythmic on Day-6 (30 June) at Hellinikon Olympic Indoor Hall, Beach Volleyball on Day-5 (29 June), Equestrian on Day-3 (27 June) at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center, Golf on Day-3 (27 June) at Glyfada Golf Course, and Sailing Day-3 (27 June) at Sailing Academy Schinias as well as Judo at the American College of Greece, and Kayaking which are on the same date at Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Center. Athletics is performed on Day-9 (3 July), while Open Water Swimming will be performed on Day-7 (1 July).

Lindos

The Rhodes King of Tlepolemus and his Dorians founded Lindos in 10BC, located in the Dorian Hexapolis. This town was developed into a business central due to its geographical location between Greek and Phoenicians. Charis the Lindos, the Colossus of Rhodes’ architect was born here.  Upon the establishment of Rhodes, Lindos’ function was gradually neglected. The acropolis of Lindos was surrounded by the Athena Lindia’s temple which during the occupancy of The Knight of St. John, this temple was partially reconstructed into a colossal fortification in 14BC. After centuries, Lindos was submerged from earth surface, and it was only discovered after 19^th Century by Denmark’s Carlsberg Institute. K.F. Kinch and Christian Blinkenberg who directed the excavation process founded the groundwork of Lindos’ constructions. Within the occupancy of Italians by the year of 1912 to 1945, the progression was continued but resulted significant damage to their historical value. The restoration of the remnants was executed, yet it did not make any substantial contribution. The core value of its historical constructions was diminished. Nowadays, the Greek Government under the Ministry of Culture has conducted the proper restoration and preservation to protect and maintain the valuable world heritage.

Since the end of Italians occupancy, Lindos has been famous for its archeological site, which lies on the east coast of the Rhodes Island about 55km from the Rhodes city. The ancient buildings visible these days include the Athena Lindia’s Doric Temple, the Propylaea’s Sanctuary, the Hellenistic stoa, the Rhodian battleship’s relief, the Hellenistic staircase, the temples of Roman, the acropolis of Lindos, St. John’s Castle, and St. John’s Church. Aside to those, the magnificent beaches in this region develop into one of the most popular tourists’ destination in the Mediterranean and Greece. The Lindos’ contemporary village provides interesting water activities, such as snorkeling, swimming, diving, cruising, and water skiing. During the night, the bars and cafes scattered around this village offer wide variety of cuisines and night entertainments. The room accommodation of Captain’s Houses or villas surrounded by wall proffer delicious cuisines and budgeted price to the tourists. Most of the villas are private property of musical artists and authors yet they are not openly published the ownership. The picturesque scenery around Lindos landscape is the added value for the tourists around the world. With the population of around a thousand people and the warm weather reflected to its locals, makes the journey worthwhile. The romanticism of this place is well-known for the wedding venue of its locals or a honeymoon escapee for people outside the country.

Medieval Town Of Rhodes

Upon the prolapsus of Jerusalem Kingdom in 1291, the Knights requested an asylum to the Cyprus Kingdom when Acre was in conquest of Muslim forces. Guillaume de Villaret, the Knights Hospitallers’ Grand Master, released an order to obtain a provisional domain in Rhodes. The Grand Master was substituted by Foulques de Villaret after Guillaume death in 1305. Foulques proceeded the order to occupy Rhodes and in 1309 Rhodes was defeated by the Knights which were later called “The Knights of Rhodes”. The initial occupancy of these Knights is then stated as the beginning of the medieval period in the town of Rhodes or called the Middle Ages period. The Knights of Rhodes reconstructed the town into European medieval landmarks. They established castles, monuments, and strong walls throughout the town which are still seen nowadays. The Rhodes suffered two attacks from the Egypt Sultan (1444) and Mehmed II (1480), but the Knights of Rhodes finally surrendered after they were defeated by Suleiman the Great’s army in 1522. The survival of the Knights retreated to Sicily and later shifted their base to Malta. Rhodes was then under the occupancy of the Turkish Empire for almost 4 centuries.

The constructions built during the Knights of Rhodes’ occupancy are stretched from the Medieval Town’s entrance walls, which is later called the Old Town. The European medieval architecture is strongly visible on the buildings, fountains, mosques, churches, even castles of the Knights of Rhodes, and the Grand Master’s Palace are restored and conserved until now. The building where the Knight of Saint John inhabited centuries ago still firmly stands is now called Saint John’s Church. The Auvergne’s Inn subsequently functioned as the Great Hospital was established circa 1440 to 1489, and nowadays this building is operated as a museum of archeological. After the occupancy of Suleiman that brought in Islamic influence, the Turkish Empire converted most of those buildings into Islamic places of worship in 1523, such as Suleiman’s Mosque, Djami of Demirli, Djami of Abdul Djelil, Djami of Peial ed Din, Mestchiti of Kavakli, and Mestchiti of Dolapli. More constructions were executed during their occupancy include the Archbishop's Palace, the Court of Commerce, the Hospice of Saint Catherine, and many more. As well as the restoration of Byzantine fortifications and the insertion of military posts by adding armaments weapons into the 12m thick and 4m high walls. The landmark in this Medieval Town of Rhodes delivers the exceptional and enchanting view, dense with its historical values.

Valley Of Butterflies

This valley is located near Theologos Village, close to the Kalopetra’s Monastery around 23km from the Rhodes city. It was used to call Pelekanos due to the Pelekanos River coursing through this valley. Alexandros Ypsilantis Prince took his daughter who suffered from tuberculosis to this valley for its suitable climate to recover her. The Prince was accompanied by his slave, namely Pelekanos. Upon their arrival at the place, the Prince asked the slave to attend and nurse his daughter during his absence. To his unbeknownst, his daughter was apparently falling in love with Pelekanos. Feeling offended, Pelekanos committed suicide and thus people named the place after this poor slave. According to the local people, in 1930 the Italians brought the butterflies to this area. Yet, some elders claimed that the butterflies’ presence was noticed long before the arrival of these Italians. The outbreak however, the large numbers of butterflies were discovered since 1957. Many tourists later flooded this area and caused significant decrease in butterflies’ population. The irresponsible acts of these tourists by whistling on them or making some noise or even clapping their hands inflict the sudden motion of these butterflies. This sudden motion leads to massive consumption of energy, which may result to its death.

Butterflies for many people are considered as beautiful flying insects. The colorful and delicate wings are the most interesting parts of their body. The beauty of their shapes and shades has inspired many artists, viewed on pictures, sketches, tattoos, drawings, and even buildings ornaments. The life cycle of butterfly has four stages, started from egg, caterpillar or larva, chrysalis or pupa, and the final form of butterfly or moth. The stage of butterfly’s eggs usually begins during winter and lingers for several weeks. The eggs hatch during spring where they emerge as larva or caterpillars, which will then turn themselves into chrysalis before they finally convert their shapes into adults called butterflies. This life cycle of butterflies is the main attraction in the Butterfly Valley of Rhodes Island. This valley has been butterflies’ habitat for centuries. Thousands of butterflies are founded here, especially during their reproduction period in August. They are mating in summer and after this mating process the males will die, and the females leave their eggs before they die too. By the end of May, the new butterflies surface and come into sight on this Butterfly Valley. This species of flying insect is not only common in this Rhodes Island but also in some other places such as the Sea of Mediterranean, Western Asia and Europe.

Coats of arms of Grand Masters Rhodes

1 Hιlion de Villeneuve (1319–46)

2 Juan Fernandez de Heredia (1376–96)

3 Philibert de Naillac (1396–1421)

4 Antonio Fluvian (1421–37)

5 Jean de Lastic (1437–54)

6 Jacques de Milly (1454–61)

7 Piero Raimundo Zacosta (1461–67)

8 Giovanni Battista Orsini (1467–76)

9 Pierre d’Aubusson (1476–1503)

10 Emery d’Amboise (1503–12)

11 Fabrizio del Carretto (1513–21).

The coats of arms are of much

help in dating certain sectors

of the fortifications.

Useful Contacts Rhodes Island

Emergency numbers: · Police: 100 · Town of Rhodes Police: 22410 23849 · Tourist Police: 177 · Traffic Police: 22410 26480 ·  Fire Department: 199 ·  Port Police: 108 Hospitals: · Euromedica: 22410 45000 · General Hospital: 22410  80000 Town halls: · Rhodes: 22410 46200 · Attavyros: 22460 41266 · Archangelos: 22440 22337, 22440 22506 · Afantou: 22410 53223 · Ialysos: 22410 92698 · Kamiros: 22410 41474 · Lindos: 22440 31227 · Kalithea: 22410 87760-4 · South Rhodes: 22440 43243 · Petaloudes: 22410 91998

Transport: Radio Taxi: · Rhodes: 22410 64712, 22410 64756, 22410 64790 · Afantou: 22410 51777 · Archangelos: 22440 24111 · Gennadi: 22440 43313 · Ialysos: 22410 92515 · Kremasti: 22410 94528 · Lindos: 22440 31466 · Paradisi: 22410 81461 · Faliraki: 22410 85444 Bus service: 22410 24129