Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Rhodes (must see)
One of the most significant buildings in the Old Town, the Knights' New Hospital, now houses the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. This structure not only displays artifacts from all the ancient sites on the island but also stands as a testament to the wealth and considerable engineering skills of its medieval builders.
Construction of the hospital began in 1440 and was completed nine years later under the guidance of Grand Master Pierre d鈥橝ubusson. Designed as a state-of-the-art facility for its time, it provided medical care to Christians from across Europe. The building underwent restoration during the Italian occupation and required further repairs after sustaining bomb damage during World War II.
Inside, the museum features a large courtyard lined with arched porticoes, one graced by a lion statue from the Hellenistic period. The courtyard also displays piles of cannonballs from various sieges, including that led by Suleiman the Magnificent. To the left of the courtyard, a stone staircase ascends to the infirmary hall, a vast space with a roof supported by several stone columns, reminiscent of a medieval courtroom. This main ward originally accommodated over 100 beds and had special recessed rooms for the critically ill. Originally featuring minimal comforts, such as a fireplace, it now houses relics from the era of the Knights, including the gravestones of notable members complete with their familial coats-of-arms.
The rooms on the rest of the floor, including the large refectory, have been partitioned into smaller galleries displaying a variety of artifacts, including painted pottery, large storage jars called "pithoi", and grave artifacts from ancient sites like Ialysos and Kameiros, with sections devoted to finds from specific periods. Notably, rooms 6 to 8 focus on artifacts from Ialysos dating from the 9th to the 4th century BC, while rooms 9 to 15 showcase discoveries from Kameiros, all unearthed during the Italian period of excavation.
The atrium area, once the hospital kitchen, now exhibits a remarkable collection of Classical statuary and grave steles, notably one donated by Krito for her mother Timarista around 410 BC, crafted by a local artist in the Athenian style prevalent at that time. Nearby, visitors can also find an Archaic-era "kouros" and a small head of Zeus found near his temple on Mount At谩vyros.
Other rooms display exquisite Hellenistic and Roman statues, including two marble representations of Aphrodite: Thalassia or Aidoumene, famously dubbed the 'Marine Venus' by Lawrence Durrell but notable for her sea-dissolved face, and the more accessible "Aphrodite Bathing", a crouched figure arranging her hair, which dates back to the 1st century BC but is thought to be a copy of a 3rd-century BC original. Adjacent to these, a sculpture garden displays a quirky mix of stylized animals both real and mythical, such as dolphin heads, lions, and sea serpents, all set among potted plants.
Construction of the hospital began in 1440 and was completed nine years later under the guidance of Grand Master Pierre d鈥橝ubusson. Designed as a state-of-the-art facility for its time, it provided medical care to Christians from across Europe. The building underwent restoration during the Italian occupation and required further repairs after sustaining bomb damage during World War II.
Inside, the museum features a large courtyard lined with arched porticoes, one graced by a lion statue from the Hellenistic period. The courtyard also displays piles of cannonballs from various sieges, including that led by Suleiman the Magnificent. To the left of the courtyard, a stone staircase ascends to the infirmary hall, a vast space with a roof supported by several stone columns, reminiscent of a medieval courtroom. This main ward originally accommodated over 100 beds and had special recessed rooms for the critically ill. Originally featuring minimal comforts, such as a fireplace, it now houses relics from the era of the Knights, including the gravestones of notable members complete with their familial coats-of-arms.
The rooms on the rest of the floor, including the large refectory, have been partitioned into smaller galleries displaying a variety of artifacts, including painted pottery, large storage jars called "pithoi", and grave artifacts from ancient sites like Ialysos and Kameiros, with sections devoted to finds from specific periods. Notably, rooms 6 to 8 focus on artifacts from Ialysos dating from the 9th to the 4th century BC, while rooms 9 to 15 showcase discoveries from Kameiros, all unearthed during the Italian period of excavation.
The atrium area, once the hospital kitchen, now exhibits a remarkable collection of Classical statuary and grave steles, notably one donated by Krito for her mother Timarista around 410 BC, crafted by a local artist in the Athenian style prevalent at that time. Nearby, visitors can also find an Archaic-era "kouros" and a small head of Zeus found near his temple on Mount At谩vyros.
Other rooms display exquisite Hellenistic and Roman statues, including two marble representations of Aphrodite: Thalassia or Aidoumene, famously dubbed the 'Marine Venus' by Lawrence Durrell but notable for her sea-dissolved face, and the more accessible "Aphrodite Bathing", a crouched figure arranging her hair, which dates back to the 1st century BC but is thought to be a copy of a 3rd-century BC original. Adjacent to these, a sculpture garden displays a quirky mix of stylized animals both real and mythical, such as dolphin heads, lions, and sea serpents, all set among potted plants.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rhodes. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Archaeological Museum of Rhodes on Map
Sight Name: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Sight Location: Rhodes, Greece (See walking tours in Rhodes)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Rhodes, Greece (See walking tours in Rhodes)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Rhodes, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Rhodes
Creating your own self-guided walk in Rhodes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Rhodes Introduction Walking Tour
The city of Rhodes, capital of the eponymous island, has been famous since antiquity as the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Colossus of Rhodes. The enormous statue once stood over the harbor entrance and was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 226 BC.
The name Rhodes comes from the ancient Greek word 鈥渞h贸don鈥� (rose), hence the island is sometimes referred to as the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
The name Rhodes comes from the ancient Greek word 鈥渞h贸don鈥� (rose), hence the island is sometimes referred to as the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Gates and Walls Tour
Owing to its geographical location, as a gateway to the Aegean Sea, Rhodes has always had a vantage position on trade routes between the West and the East 鈥� well protected against both foreign invaders and corsairs sailing the Mediterranean waters. The early defense system of Rhodes dates back as far as the 4th century BC.
Starting the Middle Ages 鈥� the year 1309, when the Knights... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Starting the Middle Ages 鈥� the year 1309, when the Knights... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Mandraki Harbor Tour
Mandraki, one of the three harbors of Rhodes, is by far the most famous of them. For centuries, this 鈥渇ront door鈥� of the island has welcomed visitors to Rhodes from far and away. In large part (and quite literally so), the reason for its popularity was the enormous statue of Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, that used to crown the harbor's entrance, adding a sense... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Medieval Town Walking Tour
The medieval town of Rhodes, where every street, square, or building evokes a story about ancient times, is a living museum in its own right. Being one of the best-preserved medieval walled towns in Europe, this enchanting area boasts several remarkable locations and is quite deservedly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Welcoming you at its entrance is the Liberty (or Eleftherias) Gate.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Welcoming you at its entrance is the Liberty (or Eleftherias) Gate.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Acropolis of Rhodes
The Acropolis of Rhodes on Monte Smith is an ancient archaeological site. The excavations and restoration works here began under the Italian administration of the island (from 1912 to 1945) and continue to this day. This historic location is home to several significant structures dating back to the Hellenistic period (3rd to 2nd century BC) offering a glimpse into the history and culture of the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles