Old Town Rhodes is an exciting and historical part of this Island. It offers you not only great sightseeing options but also comes with centuries of myths that give it a rich cultural heritage. According to the legend when Zeus defeated the giants and became the lord of the world, he wanted to divide the earth amon various gods of Olympia. However the sun god Helios present during this time. When sun god returned he protested and requested Zeus for his share.
Legend also has it that it was during this very time that a beautiful, flower-studded island emerged from the sea. Rhodes became the crowning glory of Helios and recipient of his sunshine. This is why Rhodes is known as the Island of sun as it gets plenty of sunshine through out the year which makes it a favorite of tourists.
The history of Rhodes is deeply rooted in mythology. Rhodes has also seen its share of rise and fall and many empires have arisen and perished here.
Many different races of people inhabited Rhodes and left a mark on its history and culture. The Phoenicians Introduced our first alphabet and the Rhodians took part in the Trojan Wars and gave Rhodes such an important place in the history of the world.
Rhodes is divided in the Medieval and the New Town of Rhodes which are a combination of the new and the old. The Old Town of Rhodes is known for its heritage. This is the reason which makes it a World heritage site by the UNICEF. You can enjoy a lot of different monuments here. The Sound and Light Show is performed underneath the walls in the backyard of the Palace of the Knights and tells the legend of descend of Rhodes in Greek, English, Swedish, German, and French. There are various museums and other informational places that give the traveler a feeling of traveling back in the past.
The island is 45 miles long and 22 miles wide at its greatest width. Rhodes Island is situated in the south-eastern Aegean Sea right off the southwestern shore of Turkey and is part of the Dodecanese group. The city of Rhodes in Greece is situated at its northeastern point.
Rhodes offers a variety of accommodation options with many restaurants, shopping markets and taverns.
Old Town of Rhodes offers tourists big entry point in the past of a city which has lived through centuries and evolved in many ways. Your visit to Rhodes is incomplete without a visit to both the Old and the New town of Rhodes. Both these together define what Rhodes has to offer.