RODES

The largest island of the Dodecanese and the fourth largest of Greece, Rhodes was the island of the god Helios, whose statue, the famous Colossus, standing at the harbour entrance, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Rhodes flourished in Hellenistic limes, becoming a major trading city. From 1309, Rhodes was lhe seat of lhe Order of the Knighls Hospilaller. The medieval city which lhey buill, with lhe Caslle of lhe Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master, was declared a UNESCO world heritage sile in 1988. The island was conquered by the Ottomans in 1523 and by the llalians in 1912. lt remained under ltalian rule until lhe unification of the Dodecanese with Greece in 1948. Today, one of Greece's most popular island destinations, Rhodes enchants its visitors wilh its exquisite beaches, idyllic landscapes and important ancient and medieval monumenls.