Rhodes town is divided into the new and the old town and both are well worth a visit. Rhodes town is on a main harbour and the site of the 'Collosus of Rhodes'; one of the famed seven wonders of the world, a statue of the greek god Helios said to be 110 feet high and made of bronze, proudly marking the entrance to the harbour until destroyed by an earthquake in 248BC.
Facing the harbour you will find a huge choice of restaurants and cafes offering a wonderful range of Greek and European fayre, and the most deliscious cakes and pasteries. Wherever you are in new Rhodes town you are never far away from the imposing gothic style walls of the medievel city.
The Old Town a majestic trip back in time. It is a walled city complete with a Palace of the Knights, it is large and very well preserved. Of course you have to expect the tourist areas to look a little shiny and new but if you walk off the beaten path within the city walls you will see that while the buildings have for the most part not undergone a great deal of restoration it all looks pretty much the same and uniform throughout, and quite obviously isn't something just created for tourists.
The Palace of the Knights is again a 'definitely a must see', it has the feel of a massive gothic castle. There are beautiful mosaics you will see on the floor that are were brought in from the island of Kos. The straight road leading down to the port from the palace is called the Street of the Knights and was the main road leading to the port 500 years ago It is also the sheer scale and style that overwhelms you as you walk around the large town that really takes you back in time. Within the narrow cobbled streets and airy picturesque squares you will find no shortage of restaurants and cafes that in no way are imposing and take nothing away from the authentic medieval experience.
You can definatley make a complete day trip out of this place, and when you have completed your tour of the city itself and had your fill of good food and window shopping you can then adjourn to the old moat. Obviously no swimming involved as the moat is now a deep grass covered valley surrounding the city, dotted here and there with palm trees and flowers.
At approximatley three kilometers around it is a beatiful and picturesque stroll perfect location for a picnic, soaking up the sun, or sitting under a tree or the shadow of the great city walls in quiet contemplation and meditation. Rhodes old town is an absolute must for any visitor to the island and really shouldn't be missed.
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