Discovery-Architecture in Rhodes…

Rodiaki NewsRoom

Evident today in the forms of folk art, find their highest expressions in Rhodes dwellings.

In the Old Town of Rhodes a great part of the Venetian architecture has been well protected and conserved, giving the City of Rhodes the status of being one of the largest and carefully preserved medieval settlements in Europe.

With the stone-paved narrow alleys of the fortified city, visitors will be able to admire stone arches and arcades forming a roof over the alleyways, creating an amazing picturesque atmosphere.

Along with the Venetian architecture, superb buildings, towers and palaces from the time of the Knights of Saint John (under the rule of a Genoese admiral, 1309-1480) are embellishing the Old Town and the countryside, taking the visitor back to the Middle Ages. Arab and Turkish architectural styles perfectly blending with the aforementioned, enrich the Old Town with minarets and vaulted houses.

The Ottoman occupation has also influenced the architecture of Rhodes. This can be seen in the rich decoration of the houses and in the wooden trellis which surround the balconies and windows of the facades. Marvellous minarets and mosques make a perfect mix to this remarkable architectural combination, bringing an extraordinary touch to all this beauty.

Public buildings from the period of Italian rule

The spirit of the Italian administrations eloquently expressed in the public buildings around Eleftherias Square, close to Mandraki. The National Theatre of Rhodes dominates due to its sheer size, a unique architectural combination of the 'international' and 'fascist' styles. It was built in 1937 and originally known as the 'Teatro Puccini'. The building now functions as both theatre and cinema.

The Doikitirio, or Governor's Palace, is one of the most important structures of the period and combines Gothic and renaissance morphological features with memories of the Doges' Palace in Venice. It was built in 1927 to the designs of the architect Florestano di Fausto. Today it houses the offices of the Regional Authority of the Dodecanese.

A vaulted passage links it to the Church of the Annunciation, built in imitation of the old crusader Church of St. John. Diagonally opposite the church, we find the Rhodes Post Office building (built around 1926), a fine example of renaissance eclecticism.