Rhodes

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This article is about the Greek island of Rhodes. For other uses, see Rhodes (disambiguation).

"Rodi" redirects here. For other uses, see Rodi (disambiguation).

Rhodes Ρόδος
Palace of the Grand Master in the city of Rhodes
Rhodes
Location within the region [show]
Coordinates: 36°10′N 28°0′ECoordinates: 36°10′N 28°0′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	South Aegean
Regional unit	Rhodes
Area
• Municipality	1,401.459 km2(541.106 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1,216 m (3,990 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Municipality	115,490
• Municipality density	82/km2 (210/sq mi)
Community
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	85x xx
Area code(s)	2241, 2244, 2246
Vehicle registration	ΡΟ
Website	www.rhodes.gr

Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos [ˈroðos]) is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of land area and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the South Aegean region. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Rhodes.^[2] The city of Rhodes had 50,636 inhabitants in 2011. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Rhodes' nickname is The island of the Knights, named after the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who once conquered the land.^[3]

Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.^[4][5][6][7]

Earthquakes[edit]

Earthquakes include the 226 BC earthquake that destroyed the Colossus of Rhodes; one on 3 May 1481 which destroyed much of the city of Rhodes;^[10] and one on 26 June 1926.^[11]

On 15 July 2008, Rhodes was struck by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake causing minor damage to a few old buildings and one death.^[12]

Climate[edit]

Rhodes has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa in the Köppen climate classification).

Archaeology[edit]

Rhodes old Harbour Entrance

Fountain square at the ancient site of Kameiros.

The castle of Monolithos.

The Colossus of Rhodes was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This giant bronze statue was documented as once standing at the harbour. It was completed in 280 BC and destroyed in an earthquake in 224 BC. No trace of the statue remains today.

Historical sites on the island of Rhodes include the Acropolis of Lindos, the Acropolis of Rhodes with the Temple of Pythian Apollo and an ancient theatre and stadium,^[31] ancient Ialysos, ancient Kamiros, the Governor's Palace, Rhodes Old Town (walled medieval city), thePalace of the Grand Masters, Kahal Shalom Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, the Archeological Museum, the ruins of the castle of Monolithos, the castle of Kritinia, St. Catherine Hospice and Rhodes Footbridge.

Towns and villages[edit]

Rhodes has 43 towns and villages:

Town/Village	Population[1]	Municipal unit	Town/Village	Population	Municipal unit
Rhodes City	50,636	Rhodes	Gennadi	671	South Rhodes
Ialysos	11,331	Ialysos	Salakos	576	Kameiros
Afantou	6,329	Afantou	Kritinia	503	Attavyros
Archangelos	5,476	Archangelos	Kattavia	307	South Rhodes
Kremasti	5,396	Petaloudes	Dimylia	465	Kameiros
Kalythies	4,832	Kallithea	Kalavarda	502	Kameiros
Koskinou	3,679	Kallithea	Pylona	627	Lindos
Pastida	3,641	Petaloudes	Istrios	291	South Rhodes
Paradeisi	2,667	Petaloudes	Damatria	641	Petaloudes
Maritsa	1,808	Petaloudes	Laerma	361	Lindos
Embonas	1,242	Attavyros	Apolakkia	496	South Rhodes
Soroni	1,278	Kameiros	Platania	196	Kameiros
Lardos	1,380	Lindos	Kalathos	502	Lindos
Psinthos	853	Kallithea	Lachania	153	South Rhodes
Malona	1,135	Archangelos	Monolithos	181	Attavyros
Lindos	3,087	Lindos	Mesanagros	155	South Rhodes
Apollona	845	Kameiros	Profilia	304	South Rhodes
Massari	1,004	Archangelos	Arnitha	215	South Rhodes
Fanes	858	Kameiros	Siana	152	Attavyros
Theologos	809	Petaloudes	Vati	323	South Rhodes
Archipoli	582	Afantou	Agios Isidoros	355	Attavyros
Asklipio	646	South Rhodes Sea[edit] "MS Thomson Majesty" at the harbour of Rhodes. The Kameiros Skala Dock. Rhodes has five ports, three of them in Rhodes City, one in the west coast near Kamiros and one in east coast near Lardos.[citation needed] Central Port: located in the city of Rhodes serves exclusively international traffic consisting of scheduled services to/from Turkey, cruise ships and yachts. Since Summer 2012, the port is also a homeport for Costa Cruises during the summer period. Kolona Port: opposite and north of the central port, serves intra-Dodecanese traffic and all sizes yachts. Akandia Port: the new port of the island, south and next to the central port, being built since the 1960s, for domestic, cargo and general purpose traffic. No land facilities exist although the municipality is in the process of erecting a passenger terminal. Kamiros Skala Dock: 30 km (19 mi) south west of the city near Ancient Kamiros ruins serves mainly the island of Halki Lardos Dock: formerly servicing local industries, now under development as an alternative port for times when the central port is inaccessible due to weather conditions. It is situated in a rocky shore near the village of Lardos in south east Rhodes.