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Rhodes
( Rodos ) island
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The
Aquarium
On
the northernmost tip of Neohori stands the official Institute of Hydrobiology
(the Aquarium). As well as being the premier research laboratory for scientific
projects, the centre also presents a popular aquarium. On display are rare
species of fish and other marine fauna. Particularly impressive are the
tanks located below sea-level which feature special marine exhibits.
The
Medieval
Town is a living monument, an exquisite museum if you like, that
has much to reveal to the visitor. Every corner, every street, every building
has its own history, and so it is understandable that a “guide” will confine
him or her self to the best-known sights. They will have time only for
some key historical facts, leaving visitors, perhaps with the help of some
more detailed or specific information, to discover by themselves, walking
along the narrow maze of streets, a taste of the Old Town that we cannot
give in the course of our short “tour”.
 Starting
from Mandraki, and passing through Eleftheria Gate at Symi Square, the
first building we see is the 15th century Inn of Tongue of Auverge,
now the offices of the Archaeological Services. To the right of Symi Square
is the Municipal Art Gallery with its Collection of works by modern Greek
painters. Just a litle further is Argyrokastro Square, a beautiful small
space, at the center of which is a fountain made out of an early-Christian
baptismal font.
Also
In Argyrokastro Square is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings
in the medieval town – the old arsenal of the Knights – which today houses
the Folk Art and Folklore Museum.
On
show are various exhibits from the past, such as the Rhodian “sperveri”,
a hand-made curtain of asbestos cloth and silk surrounding the
nuptial bed. Other treasures include plates from Rhodes and Byzantium,
local costumes, furniture, and various traditional household items.
Leaving
Argyrokastro Square and walking through the low arch that today controls
vehicle access to the medieval town, we arrive, at the foot of the
Street of the knights, at the Byzantine 12th century Church of the
Virgin Mary of the Castle (now the Byzantine Art museum).
Immediately
after, in Museum Square, are the inn of the Tongue of England, and the
old hospital of the knights, which today houses the Archaeological Museum.
As
visitors leave the Castle, suitably impressed, they will probably
be thinking that there is nothing of the Medieval town left to see. But
they soon realize this isn’t the case, and as they continue walking they
quickly discover that a new surprise beckons at every corner.
Further
delights await as the walker passes Kleobulos Square and crosses
Orpheus
Street, a wide road shaded from the sun by the large, spreading plane
trees. There the visitor can rest opposite the canons of the Castle at
the base of the Clock Tower, which is now a nightclub. This tower is often
a willing model, posing for the open-air pavement artists of the area.
And so our stroll goes on…
At
the foot of Orpheus Street, beyond the inner wall of the Castle,
where Socrates Street begins, is the mosque of Suleiman, built in 1808,
opposite the Ahmet Hafuz library, which dates from 1794.
And
now before us is Socrates Street, with its scores of busy shoppers, or
window-shoppers, buying or browsing in the hundreds of stores that line
both sides of this 24-hour high-street!
Off
Socrates
Street, both left and right, narrow lanes wind into the heart of the
medieval town. One of them, Hippodamus Street (right), leads to the Turkish
quarter. A little way on the right-hand side is the 15th century church
of Agia Paraskevi and shortly after this, on the left, is the very narrow
Arhelaou Street, which gives on to Arionos Square and the mosque of Sultan
Mustafa (1765) and the Turkish Hamam (baths), which are still operated
by the local municipality.
From
Arionos
Square a lane descends to the open-air theatre. Regularly, on
summer evenings, folk-dance performances are held here.
A
little further down, taking the road to the right, we come to the Byzantine
church of Agios Fanourios. Walking back along Agios Fanourios Street,
we end up half-way down Socrates Street, and still descending, we reach
the beautiful fountain in the center of Hippocrates Square.
 In
the square stands the important building known as “Castellania”,
of an unusual architectural style with a grand external staircase. During
the Italian period it was the hub of the town’s commercial life, and the
first floor held the Commercial Court. Today the Folklore Archives of the
Dodecanese and the Public Library are housed here.
Leaving
Hippocrates Square, we traverse Aristotle Street towards the square
of the Hebrew Martyrs, the heart of the Jewish quarter. In the middle of
this square there is an ornate fountain with tiles depicting shells, starfish,
and marine life, and the beautiful decoration is completed with three large
iron sea-horses.
On
the north side of the square is the Admiralty (15th century), for many
years the residence of the Bishop of Rhodes. On the south-eastern side
is the Synagogue and, continuing to the end of the street, we arrive at
the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Burgh (14th century), the biggest
church of the medieval town, now divided into two sections.
An
extension of Aristotle Street leads to the reconstructed Hostel of Saint
Catherine, and a little further to the east, in another square, is the
15th century church of Agios Panteleimon.
Moreover,
if you want an even more complete picture of the Old Town, you can walk
along the walls (as permitted) and also in the moat surrounding the walls,
behind which thrives the medieval Town of Rhodes. |
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