A short October trip to the Island of Rhodes (Greece)

[Lisbeth]

After a bad year we felt that we deserved a break away from home and opted for Rhodes with its warm sun, lovely beaches, rich multicultural history and many things to see.



The Medieval walled city within the town of Rhodes


The first whole day was spent partly exploring the old town and the Grand Palace of the Templars (Grand Master's Palace)

" With the fall of Jerusalem in 1309, the Knights of St. John retreated first to Cyprus and then to Rhodes. As the main base for the crusaders in their struggle against the Ottoman Empire, Rhodes was a fortress, a prison, and a supply base for the ships and armies on their way to Palestine and Asia Minor."
A bit of history of the Knights Templar http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/socio ... plar01.htm

the Knights Street



The entrance to the Palace



The Courtyard



To be continued.......

[Richprins]

Fascinating, Lis!

[Dewi]

Great start Lis.

Fascinating architecture.

[Mel]

Honestly, Lis - you cannot start your TT when I'm about to leave for my holiday.

I enjoyed the first photos though and it looks like a real good experience!
Never been anywhere near Greece so far, so I'll make sure to catch up again eventually.

[Lisbeth]

Fascinating architecture.

It has been restaured to its former glory by the Italians in the beginning of the 20th century, when they had occupied the island (times of Mussolini). They have done a magnificent job though

[Amoli]

Lovely

Your pic of the archways is beautiful, and the architecture on the castle is impressive.

[Lisbeth]

The inside is a kind of museum



Old map of Rhodes



There are beautiful mosaics, that luckily have been saved






(Sun coming through the window )





Coat of Arms, which I do not really know what is doing there, because the knights of Saint John went to Malta after they had lost Rhodes



Another bit of history, which in fact is much better than the one posted above.

http://www.orderofmalta.int/history/639 ... a/?lang=en

[Lisbeth]

The hospital at Rhodes was the below, which today is the Arheological Museum. It is placed below, but not far from the Palace



At the entrance to the Medieval City

[Lisbeth]

For us it was very interesting as we have been to Malta too and seen the Palace, defenses and hospital there.

As a parenthesis a few pics from Malta






The floor of the Cathedral is covered by the tomb stones of the knights. It is quite impressing





End of school. I know that you are bored to death, but I find the story of the templars fascinating and that they still excist today, even under another form is rather unique in my opinion.

Next chapter will be less boring, I hope

[Flutterby]

I find it fascinating too...thanks for sharing your lovely pics!!