Welcome to
Rhodes

Hagios Pavlos (Saint Paul)
On the road that goes through the southern side of Rhodes, 3km before reaching Kattavia village, you will find a peculiar abandoned church with a tall bell tower. Around it there are a few small guest houses. Here was the seat of the Azienta San Marco agriculture company, founded in 1935 by the Italians, who brought to the area 45-50 families of Italian settlers to work. After the outbreak of the Word War II, the settlers left and were replaced by farmers from Kattavia. After the Italians withdrew in 1948, the building complex was permanently abandoned. A little further, on the opposite side of the road, the so-called prison of Saint Paul is located, which used to be a silk processing factory. The dirt road to the left of Saint Paul’s prison leads after 5-6 kilometers to the small monastery of Agios Georgios tis Nyfis (Saint George of the Bride).
Eleousa
It is a deserted village in the lush foothills of Mount Profitis Elias. It was built by the Italians (Campochiaro was its original name) and loggers from Northern Italy settled there. Their goal was not only the utilization of timber, but also the care of the forest for tourist reasons –on Profitis Elias used to stay the official guests of Rhodes. The square of Eleousa is surrounded by imposing buildings. The largest of them featuring the arches and the small curved balconies was the market. The prison was right across (now operating as a school). On one end of the square stood the sanatorium and on the other the church of Agios Charalambos (Saint Charalambos), which was once a Catholic and now is an Orthodox church. A few meters further from the square there is a large round cistern, filled by the waters of the adjacent Koskinisti spring. It is the home of a quite large population of gizani. This is all that remained of a population that no longer exists, that of the Platy stream.

Profitis Ilias
Approximately 25 klm from the city of Rhodes, in the area of Salakos, Profitis Ilias is the third highest mountain of the island, after Attaviros and Akramitis. On the summit stands the monastery of Profitis Ilias, and just before the summit the road leads to the hotel “Elafos and Elafina”. It was built between 1929 and 1932 and initially housed Italian army officers. The hotel takes its’ name from the local species of deer, called dama dama, which still livesin the wild throughout the island. “Elafos and Elafina” is a renovated and modernized establishment, which retains its’ original architectural traits and the area of the mountain is ideal for walks, hiking and exploring the local flora and fauna. Opposite the hotel stands the currently abandoned de Vecchi mansion, the country house of the Italian Governor of the Dodecanese from 1936 to 1940. The mansion is also believed to have been built to be used as a summer home for Benito Mussolini. North of the compound, one of the paths leads to the small church of Taxiarhis, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view.

Olive trees have grown on the island since ancient times. Due to the extended periods of sunshine and the age-long experience of farmers, the oil produced on the island is of excellent quality. The Rhodian extra virgin oil has a bright yellow-green color, a rich flavor and a delicate aroma and it has been awarded a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). In the Women’s Agrotourism Association “Apolloniatisses, in the Apollona village, local women revive traditional recipes and promote the exceptional quality products of their region. You can find melekounia, marzipans, trahana, souma, liqueurs, wine, sweet preserves (spoon sweets) and herbs from the mountain Profitis Elias.

Tel. number: +30 22460 91284.

A retail outlet is also available in the city of Rhodes, on 68, Apostolou Pavlou Street, tel. number: +30 22410 64322

Pure Rhodian honey, honey-based sweets (melekounia, Turkish delights, jelly sweets, mandolata (nougats), pastelia (sesame seed candies), mandoles (roasted and caramelized almond bars) as well as cosmetics based on beehive products (body lotions, soaps, shampoos, etc.) can be found at “Melissokomiki Dodecanesou” (Beekeeping Company of the Dodecanese), on the 5th km of Tsairi–Airport national road, in Pastida village. On the company’s premises a Museum of Apiculture and Natural History of the Bee has been created.

Tel. number: +30 22410 48200, www.mel.gr

Local Dishes

Many villages on Rhodes have their own specialties. In Archangelos “rifiki” is cooked, namely a kid or lamb backbone stuffed with rice and roasted in a clay pot overnight. In Lindos there is “giaprakia”, a mixture of minced meat, rice, onion, tomato pulp and dill weed wrapped in vine leaves and cooked in tomato juice, lemon juice and olive oil. “Dolmadakia” with lentils and rice wrapped either in vine or cyclamen leaves is considered a similar dish. “Gamopilafo” (served at weddings – “gamos”), namely pilaf with rice and chickpeas cooked in seasoned beef broth also comes from Lindos. Messanagros is famous for “koulouria” (the stress goes on /i/), a soup with handmade oblong pasta and goat meat that is traditionally served at weddings.

Generally speaking, Rhodes has a long tradition in handmade pasta, such as the hand-shaped spaghetti with garlic or the “loukoumi” (a kind of “hilopites”, which is egg pasta resembling tagliatelle). This tradition has probably something to do with the short presence of the Italians on the island. One of the most widespread traditional dishes is “pitaroudia” with onions, namely fried croquettes with finely chopped onions, finely chopped tomatoes, mint and flour. There are many kinds of “pitaroudia”: with chickpeas purée or courgette or minced meat.

A few more traditional Rhodian dishes are “loukoum pilaf” (hilopites and minced meat cooked in the oven), “fakoryzo” (lentils and rice) and “soupioryzo” (risotto boiled in cuttlefish ink). The most common side dish in the Rhodian cuisine is “pligouri” (bulgur) or “pergouri”, as it is called in the local dialect. It can accompany from meat to fish and it is served even in the most expensive restaurants.“Rouzetia” (Pearly razorfish – in other places they are called “katsoules” or “chtenia”) is a great seafood delicacy (meze). They are small red sandfish that are served fried, accompanied by “skordalia” (garlic dip). You will certainly find this dish in the fish taverns of Stegna beach. You can also look for Symian small shrimps in fish taverns. They are very small shrimps that are caught in the neighboring Symi island and they are served fried and crispy.

Sweets

Of all the Rhodian sweets, the one that stands out is “melekouni”, a pastry offered at weddings and christenings. It is made of toasted sesame seeds, thyme honey, whole almonds, orange zest and cinnamon. “Melekouni” is soft and diamond-shaped. “Ritseli” is a sweet preserve made only on Rhodes of grapemust, dried figs, quinces and watermelon peels, while “talagoutes” are pancakes made with honey, walnuts, sesame seeds and cinnamon. Generally speaking, honey is widely used in Rhodian confectionery, as it is one of the products for which the island is famous.

Wine

Rhodian wines are considered unique. The mainly wine producing regions are the mountainous areas of western Rhodes and particularly the villages Embonas, Hagios Isidoros and Siana. The vineyards cover 600 hectares of land and the varieties grown are Athiri and Muscat, which produce white wine, as well as Mandilaria (or Amorgiano), which produces red wine.

Rodofili (white fume), Chevalier de Rhodes (red wine), Zacosta and Archontiko (red wines, aged in oak barrels), Granrose (rose wine) and the white wine Muscat de Rhodes, produced from Muscat grapes, are worth a try. Many grape growers make their own bulk wine, with which they supply the island’s taverns and coffee houses. It is said that Rhodes was the first island in the Aegean where a vineyard was cultivated and wine was produced. What is certain is that the Rhodians as early as the 7th century BC were the greatest wine merchants in the Mediterranean. The mountainous areas of the west side (Embonas, Hagios Isidoros, Siana) produce the best grapes. For the winemaking process, the varieties Athiri and Muscat (for white wine) and Mandilaria or Amorgiano (for red wine) are preferred.

Other Drinks

Souma is the Rhodian tsipouro and it is produced by distilling grape pomace. It is a strong alcoholic drink and it is available in two types: single and double distilled (the strongest). Siana is regarded as the top village of souma production and every year in August the Honey and Souma Festival is held there, where you can taste this traditional drink as well as buy some from the distilleries that are located in the village. Rhodes produces two liqueurs that you will not find anywhere else. The Sette herbe (seven herbs) is a drink made by the Franciscan friars that lived in the monastery of Kira tou Filerimou (Our Lady of Filerimos). It was renowned for its digestive properties and in order to produce it the friars used seven herbs: sage, oregano, thyme, wormwood and three more which are kept secret. Today it is produced by a Rhodian distillery and you can find it at the stall that is operating in front of the entrance of the monastery.

The second traditional Rhodian liqueur is Koriandolino. Its characteristic feature is the sugar-coated coriander branch that is inside the bottle and looks like a small tree. Its production is limited because the bottling has to be made by hand and it is available in various flavors. It has always been the classic gift everyone visiting Rhodes brought back to friends and relatives.

On the island the only beer Premium Lager type is also produced.

You can travel by plane and arrive at Diagoras Airport flying with Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines. During the summer months there are daily flights from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, while there are scheduled flights to and from Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Karpathos and Kastelorizo.

In summer, Rhodes is also served by many charter flights that depart daily from various European countries (mostly from England, Germany and the Scandinavian countries).

The flight from Athens to Rhodes lasts approximately 40 minutes.

The Diagoras Airport is 14 km away from the city of Rhodes.

Athens International Airport (El. Venizelos):

+30 210 3530000

Diagoras Airport:

+30 22410 88700-1

You can travel by boat and arrive to Rhodes by ferry boat from the port of Piraeus. Depending on the itinerary, the boat makes intermediate stops at the islands of Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos and Kos. Daily itineraries are scheduled from the port of Piraeus. The boat usually departs at 19:00 in the afternoon and travels overnight. Therefore, you should consider the possibility of booking a cabin to sleep. There are also ferry boat itineraries scheduled from Santorini and Heraklion.

The voyage from Piraeus to Rhodes lasts 12 to 17 hours, depending on how many ports the boat stops at before reaching Rhodes.

Piraeus Port:

+30 210 4226001

Port of Rhodes:

+30 22410 22220

+30 22410 28666

Offices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation: +30 22410 44330

Municipality of Rhodes:

<+30 22410 46200

Police Station:

+30 22410 27506

Tourist Police Station:

+30 22410 27423

Post Office:

+30 22410 35560

Rhodes General Hospital:

+30 22410 80000

*Banks are located in the new city of Rhodes, around the port. Bank opening hours: Monday to Thursday 08:00-14:30, Friday 08:00-14:00.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) can be found everywhere.

USEFUL LINKS

www.rhodes.gr

www.visitgreece.gr