Lindos. the Oldest City on the Island of Rhodes

Lindos is the oldest surviving town in Rhodes. According to some sources, the city is 27 centuries old. It was mentioned in the Iliad by Homer. This city participated in the Trojan War!

The city resisted the Persians and Alexander the Great, but not against the Roman Empire. That's when Christianity came here. After the Roman Empire, it became part of the Byzantine Empire. In addition to the Byzantines, the city was visited by the Ionian Knights and the Turks. The mixture of cultures of all the nations that changed their rule over the city has been preserved in its historical monuments.

The nearest airport is in the capital Rhodes, 55 km from Lindos, from where you can reach the city by bus or by water from Mandraki port. Along the way, it's nice to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the local area. Renting a car is also possible, but the streets in the old town are so narrow that you have to leave your vehicle outside the city limits in a special parking lot.

Lindos is located in the east of the island of Rhodes at the foot of the rock on which the Acropolis is located. The town is characterized by narrow streets lined with white-washed houses, with narrow passages between them and numerous arches. The local sidewalks are paved with white stones and the thresholds at the entrance are black and white pebbles.

One of the local attractions are the "captains' houses" built in the XVI-XVII centuries. All of them are made in the same style: high walls, arched entrances, massive wooden doors with coats of arms. Inside, there are painted ceilings and patios, courtyards with flower beds and pebble mosaic floors. These houses are UNESCO heritage sites.

Another architectural historical monument is the tomb of Kleobul, a local ruler renowned for his wisdom. The tomb has a cellindrical shape with a burial chamber, is made of stone and dates back to the 6th century BC.

In the center of town is the Church of the Holy Virgin of Lindos, known for its amazing 15th century frescoes.

In the neighboring village of Archangelos on a beautiful hill stands the church and monastery of Panagia Tsambika, where the miraculous icon of the Mother of God is kept. It helps childless families to discover the joy of motherhood and fatherhood, so couples often come to pray to it.

The city's most popular attraction is the Acropolis, perched on a cliff above St. Paul's Bay. The fortification was built in the 2nd century BC and is one of the largest in Greece.

At the foot of the rock there is an image of a ship of the ancient Greeks, dating back to the 2nd century. It is the work of the famous sculptor Pythocrates, which symbolizes the maritime importance of the city in ancient times. Pythocrates is also the author of Niki of Samothrace, a winged sculpture on display in the Louvre.

In the center of the acropolis is the temple of Athena of Lindos, built by the son of the Egyptian king Danaeus in the XIV century BC. Alexander the Great himself came here for the blessing of the goddess.

The vast acropolis had warehouses, temples, a square, and amphitheaters. The local ancient theater is carved directly into the rock. In the XIV century, the Ionite Knights built the castle of the Order of St. John here and erected a protective wall surrounding the city.

Many buildings have been damaged by time and earthquakes, but still partially preserved columns, walls, steps. And from the top of the mountain there is a breathtaking view of the city and the bay.

The climb up the mountain to the acropolis is quite steep, you can walk or ride a donkey. It is better to make the excursion in comfortable shoes and clothes with a hat and a supply of drinking water. Be careful, some of the stairs in the fortress have no guardrails and are quite dangerous for traveling on them, especially for children.

At the foot of the acropolis on the southern side is the bay of St. Paul, where the prophet once docked and later preached Christianity on the island. There are also two beaches with sandy-pebble shores, but the stones are sharp, so it is better to walk on them with shoes.

The places here are very picturesque, but rest is not the cheapest. Besides, because of the popularity of the place there are a lot of people who swim, dive, sail on yachts, boats, boats, so that privacy and quiet rest is out of the question. Nearby there is a parking lot, restaurant, cafe, you can rent beach equipment.

It is located in a large bay, thanks to which it is protected from the wind and there are practically no waves here. The water warms up quickly, the entrance is gentle, which is convenient for vacationers with children. The vast coast is covered with soft sand. The water is clean, clear. You can rent umbrellas and deck chairs. There are restaurants and cafes nearby.

The beaches of Lindos offer various water activities such as water skiing, windsurfing, diving and many others.

Compared to Rhodes, the island's capital, and Filiraki, the city of nightlife, Lindos is relatively quiet because high noise levels are forbidden by law here!

But that doesn't mean there aren't activities and you can't have fun.

Of course, first of all, Lindos will appeal to lovers of picturesque nature, historical monuments, ancient ruins. But there are also night entertainment places where you can dance and listen to music. For example, in the nightclub "Amphitheater" every night hold open-air discos, and from the dance floor there is a beautiful view of the sea and the cliffs.

In addition to delicious food, the local restaurants offer live music bands. The local bars always have an assortment of delicious cocktails. The parties here may not be as big and loud, but they have their own charm. Many establishments have rooftop gardens and gazebos where visitors can savor delicious food while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

The small stores of Lindos sell many items: olives and olive oil, wine, jewelry and souvenirs, shells, sponges.

Local craftsmen sell pottery right at the entrance to the pottery workshops. Their goods are distinguished by their elegance and beauty and are not cheap, but they serve as an excellent souvenir and a memento of a visit to the city.