Rhodes – Image Credit: artistica2004 (Flickr)
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is an increasingly popular destination for holiday makers and arguably has some of the most beautiful architecture and deep history that the world has to offer.
So recently, when I was browsing through some great cruise deals, I stumbled across an itinerary that included Rhodes, which is one of the places in Greece I was yet to visit, and I am now so glad that I have. Rhodes is one of the great islands in the Mediterranean and an absolutely remarkable place. There are few facilities in the cruise port, but that’s purely because the amazing main tourist attractions are only a short walk away.
Faliraki Beach
The first thing that I fell in love with in Rhodes was Faliraki Beach. It is a long stretch of gorgeous golden sand, and an impressive water park, offering an unbelievable range of water sports. This particular beach does have a reputation with partying twenty-something’s though, so if you prefer a quieter, more relaxing beach scene, then you are better off heading south to Lachania Beach instead.
Then, I did some shopping! The reason that I loved it so much was that I am a lover of handicrafts, and when exploring the shopping locations in Rhodes there truly is an abundance or ceramics, jewellery, woven rugs and even delicious food stuffs that were making my mouth water, including sweet honey and tasty olives. Of course, souvenirs are also everywhere, just in case you are required to bring little gifts back from your travels!
If you are a little more traditional though, or even if you are not, visiting the many amazing and historical places in Rhodes is a must, and many of them really do give you a feel for Greece, and the wealth of history that the ancient country holds.
Fortification Walls
For a start, the Fortification Walls themselves are one of the great medieval monuments in the Med, and have been restored to an extremely high quality. They moat that lies between the inner and outer walls has never contained water, and was merely there to prevent invaders from building siege towers, so they have a lot of history behind them.
Palace of the Grand Masters
Then, there is the Palace of the Grand Masters, a castle area which is often considered as a city within a city, and truly the best starting point if you are going to have a tour of Rhodes. It helps you get oriented and offers spectacular views, and the permanent exhibition downstairs is very interesting in itself.
The many museums and stunning buildings really do reflect the great character of Rhodes, and I hope to return for a little longer at some point, so I have the opportunity to appreciate everything about this beautiful city, and all that it has to offer to tourists. I also hope to visit Lindos, a town that lies 30 miles southwest of Rhodes town.
