Rhodes, Greece

Today we explored Rhodes independently. With more than 10,000 years of history, the island is a tapestry of ancient civilizations, medieval architecture, and living culture. In 1988, the Medieval City of Rhodes was rightly recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We left the ship shortly after 9:00 AM and walked along the waterfront toward Liberty (Eleftherias) Gate—one of the 11 massive gates that protect the fortified Old Town.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Our first stop was the Archaeological Museum, housed in the former 15th-century Knights’ Hospital. It holds 7,000 years of artifacts, from ancient sculptures to mosaics and everyday objects from centuries past. The building itself feels like a museum piece.

Street of the Knights & Palace of the Grand Masters
We continued up the Street of the Knights, where the Knights of St. John once lived in their various national residences. At the top of the street stands the Palace of the Grand Masters, a Gothic fortress built in the 14th century that served as both the administrative center and home of the Grand Master.

Square of the Jewish Martyrs
After wandering through the Old Town’s winding streets, we eventually reached the Square of the Jewish Martyrs. At the beginning of the 20th century, Rhodes was home to around 5,000 Jews. Many emigrated in the 1930s, and in WWII, 1,673 were deported to Auschwitz. Only 151 survived.

In the center of the square stands a black marble Holocaust memorial honoring the Jews of Rhodes and Kos who were murdered. Nearby is the Sea Horse Fountain—a replica of the original destroyed during the war.
When we arrived, the square was full of music and even a bit of traditional Greek dish-breaking.

The Oldest Synagogue in Greece
Just a few minutes’ walk from the square, we found the Kahal Shalom Synagogue, built in 1577. It is the oldest synagogue still standing in Greece and the last of the original six synagogues on Rhodes still in use. We also visited the small but powerful Jewish Museum located inside the same building.

After a full morning of history, walking, and reflection, we headed back to the ship to rest and get ready for the evening.Baca selengkapnya