Acropolis of Rhodes Town

The Acropolis of Rhodes is located in the western part of Rhodes Town (the capital) , on the top of the hill dedicated to Aghios Stephanos, renamed over the centuries Mount Smith . It is the testimony of a past that still retains its charm and is one of the most significant and picturesque places on the island of Rhodes.

The Acropolis of Rhodes is located within a paradisiacal landscape frame characterized by the turquoise sea and clear sky, which only an island like that of Rhodes can give us. The majestic Acropolis of Rhodes, built in the 3rd century BC to dominate the highest and western part of the city, it housed shrines, temples, and public and private places of worship. For this reason, unlike other ancient acropolis, it was never fortified. Its only walls were internal and their only purpose was to divide the areas of the area.

To date in the Acropolis of Rhodes, unfortunately, very little has remained of the splendid and ancient Hellenistic structures, but what we can still admire leaves literally speechless. The archaeological ruins that we can find here in Rhodes mix with the naturalistic and landscape beauties of the area, creating a magical and surreal atmosphere.

The Italian School of Archeology began the excavations that led to the discovery of all the buildings of the Acropolis, during the occupation of the island of Rhodes from 1912 to 1945. Starting from 1946 the responsibility for the excavations passed into the hands of the Greek Archaeological Service. The latter brought to light the Temple of Apollo, which was later severely damaged during World War II. Beginning in the 1960s, excavation and site maintenance work was resumed, making it what we fortunately can still admire today.

The acropolis had a thousand faces, nuances and functions. Let's start for example from the Temple of Zeus and Athena: a majestic temple where the inhabitants of Rhodes went to register commercial or legal contracts with merchants or diplomats from other states. The Nymphaeum was instead a place dedicated to relaxation but also to prayer. Inside were found statuettes and artifacts, as well as cisterns for collecting water and decorative fountains. Passages and interior corridors made it possible to move from one room to another, while the sunlight passed through a large opening in the central part of the ceiling.

The Temple of Apollo was a building entirely surrounded by columns, smaller than those of the temple of Athena and Zeus, but they nevertheless created an impressive scenario.

Noteworthy is certainly the Odeon, a large theater designed to accommodate 800 spectators, which hosted musical events, but also rhetorical lessons from important personalities of the time.

If you want to go back in time, in a blink of an eye, admire the Stoà: the classic portico of the ancient Greek buildings, you will surely have seen it in some movies. Only the foundations remain, but the ancient façade from the lower part of the city is visible. Next to this building you will notice the remains of an unknown temple, some say it was dedicated to Artemis.

Lovers of choirs and games, do not miss the Stadium, with its only original parts left: its 210 meters long and the official seats on which you can make your imagination run wild trying to imagine who knows which of the great Greek illustrious sat on these thrones and some sessions of the auditorium. But we believe that the starting mechanism for athletes is the most important part that you cannot miss. The stadium was renovated by Italian archaeologists.

Here are also the remains of the ancient Palestra, a large square building whose easternmost part was discovered only recently, during the renovation of the pavilion. And finally, look at the Library, in which, according to some writings, there were important texts of rhetoric. Here, too, you can indulge in imagination by assuming that reading genres were particularly popular among the ancient Greeks.

Walking through the everyday life of the ancient inhabitants of the island of Rhodes, you could discover interesting curiosities and details to reach places far away in time, which are part of an almost mystical past. Strongly recommended is the booking of an expert guide, the only one who can stimulate your curiosity and who will be able to leave an indelible mark on the memories of your holiday at the island of Rhodes and specifically at his Acropolis.