Church of Our Lady of the Castle (Museum Square), Rhodes

Museum Square ("Plat铆a Mous铆ou") is surrounded by several notable buildings, including the Church of Our Lady of the Castle. Originally constructed by the Byzantines and later completed by the Knights of Saint John, who transformed it into their cathedral, this building is a historical gem. Its somber stone walls still display traces of 14th-century frescoes from its days as a church, although it was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period. Thankfully, its original architectural design has been preserved, and today, the church houses the Byzantine Museum, which showcases a remarkable collection of icons, primarily from the 14th and 15th centuries, along with post-Byzantine frescoes that have been salvaged from abandoned chapels across Rhodes and the nearby islands.

Also on the church grounds are the remains of a Doric temple dedicated to Athena Polias鈥攁 significant archaeological site that visitors should not overlook. Just a short distance away, at the southeastern edge of the square near the Arn谩ldou Gate, is the Inn of England. Originally built in 1483, this structure was reconstructed by the Italians after its destruction in 1856.

Rich with history, the Museum Square offers a deep dive into the layered past of Rhodes and its diverse cultural influences.

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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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Church of Our Lady of the Castle (Museum Square)
Sight Location: Rhodes, Greece (See walking tours in Rhodes)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Rhodes Introduction Walking Tour

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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