Enjoy breakfast before exploring Rhodes, His remains are nowhere to be seen, of course, but the Colossus of Rhodes once bestrode the harbor which gives us another link to the Seven Wonders. Lose yourself in the maze of atmospheric cobbled streets of the Old Town (a World Heritage Site) that will transport you back to the Byzantine Empire and be sure to wander through the Knights Quarter and the Palace of the Grand Master. Indeed, Rhodes is also known as the Island of the Knights. Our itinerary allows us a whole day here which gives us plenty of opportunity to discover the clear waters, wonderful beaches, and lush wooded valleys.
Overnight on board
Optional: Medieval Tour -Philerimos Church & Palace of the Knights
This half-day tour of Rhodes is a feast for the eyes and the spirit, as we experience Rhodes' fantastic history, beautifully layered from its elegant ancient temples to the grand medieval fortified structures. The Philerimos hill, one of the city's most famous landmarks, is a prime location for enjoying magnificent views of the homonymous bay and marveling at the elegance of the Byzantine church of St. George Hostos, which is home to stunning 14th-century frescoes. We will also see the Philerimos Monastery, unique throughout Greece because of its surprising Gothic architecture. Our tour will also explore the hill of Monte Smith, named after a Napoleonic British admiral, upon which the impressive Acropolis of Rhodes has stood throughout centuries of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, or Ottoman rule. Amazing structures, such as the Apollo Temple and the Diagoras Ancient Stadium, still evoke the ancient glory of Rhodes. We will end our tour with free time in the Old Town, following a brief view of the majestic Grand Master Palace, the symbol of power for the Knights of St. John of Rhodes.
Optional: Walking tour in the Medieval City of Rhodes
This half-day walking tour explores the city's medieval history and the fascinating story of the Knights of St. John. The citadel, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and the home of the Knights of St. John, will give you a glimpse into the everyday life and challenges of medieval Rhodes. Walk among two centuries of Knights' history in Rhodes as we explore the Street of Knights, where the seven lodges of the Order were once housed. At the top of the street, we will enter a world of architectural and political might, as we visit the impressive, Gothic-style Grand Master's Palace, the seat of power during the occupation of the Knights of St. John. Built-in the 14th century, atop the ruins of a 7th-century citadel, the palace is beautifully preserved as a key feature of the Old Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will end our walking tour with free time in Rhodes' Old Town, giving you the chance to enjoy a refreshment, take more photographs, or search for the best souvenir from magical Rhodes
Optional: Religious Visit to St John’s Monastrey and St Grotto
Sleepy Patmos is where St John is said to have written the Book of Revelation around 95 AD. This excursion takes you on a historical journey to visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and the hilltop Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1999. After leaving the port of Scala, reach the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, a rare example of monastic, fortified architecture which survived the pillaging of pirates and various Aegean conquerors. In 1088, a gifted monk called Christodoulos established a Monastery in honour of St. John the Evangelist and transformed the Cave of the Apocalypse into a sacred place. Enjoy the town of Patmos (Chora) with its contrasting mixture of old magnificent mansions and most humble homes built around the wall of the Monastery. Use your free time to enjoy all the town has to offer including unparalleled views of the sea -- equally fascinating at sunrise or sunset , and its charming boutique shops and cafes.Our final stop is the Cave of the Apocalypse, an important place of pilgrimage for Christians around the world. The rock is ragged with three small fissures which symbolize the Holy Trinity, and it is said that in this place the voice of God dictated to St. John the text of the Revelation. The cave was transformed into a devotional site by the founder of the Monastery of Patmos Island, Saint Christodoulos.
Optional: Acropolis of Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights
This half-day tour begin unusually, with what you won’t see in Rhodes. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World once proudly stood here. He was the Colossus of Rhodes and is of course long departed, probably destroyed by an earthquake. Nevertheless as you arrive on this wonderful, historic island, you may just be able to imagine this statue of the Greek sun-god Helios in 280BC, standing 100 feet tall in celebration of Rhodes’ victory over Cyprus. The largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes has a compelling back story and there are still remnants of its occupation by the Knights of St John during the Crusades. So while the Colossus may not be there, you will be wowed by the many historical sites. We travel first to Lindos, about 55km from Rhodes Town and high above the village sits the impressive Acropolis of Lindos with the Doric Temple of Athena, built in 300 BC. Captains’ mansions constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries are dotted here and there and in the heart of Lindos is the Church of the Virgin Mary with lovely frescoes from the 15th Century. Back in Rhodes is where we are really immersed in the history of the island in the Knights’ Quarter. We stroll through Gate d’Amboise to walk along the Street of the Knights and see where they lived, separated according to Order, their crests still visible today. We will also see (outside) the imposing Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a medieval castle also known as the Kastello. It’s one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The Byzantine citadel was built in the 7th Century, the palace itself in the fourteenth. Where the palace sits today could well have been the spot where once stood the Colossus according to recent studies. Either way, this tour takes us into the heart of the fascinating history of Rhodes.
