Rhodes voted best European travel destination

Greece is the word for European travel: survey

Thu May 1, 2008 5:07pm EDT


By Andrew Hough

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - The Greek island of Rhodes was voted on Thursday as the top European location in a survey of the world's 100 best travel destinations.

Seven European cities were in the top 20, according to Internet travel advisory service TripAdvisor.

Experts said despite the current economic crisis, rising fuel costs, environmental concerns and airport chaos, traveling was still as popular as ever -- particularly to Europe.

In its inaugural travelers' choice survey, taking into account the opinion of the world's largest online travel community, the Greek island was voted the fifth most popular world destination. [URL="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL0128533020080501?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0"]more>[/URL]

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Rhodes/Ρόδος

Sun, surf, nature, historical and eclectic architecture, crossroads of cultures, prized possession of empires and regimes, tourism hot-spot.

Enjoy

Old City of Rhodes, one of the most perfectly preserved medieval-walled towns in Europe.













The columns mark the place of the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient wonder of the world.



















The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes was built in th 14th century by the Knights of Rhodes (now officially known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta), who occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1522. After the island was captured by the Ottoman Empire, the palace was used as a fortress. -wikipedia

















Laocoön







Acropolis of Athena Lindia at Lindos on Rhodes from the Hellenistic era. During Hellenistic times its school of sculptors developed a rich, dramatic style that can be characterized as "Hellenistic Baroque". -wikipedia



In 164 BC, Rhodes signed a treaty with Rome, and became a major schooling center for Roman noble families, and was especially noted for its teachers of rhetoric, such as Hermagoras and the author of the Rhetorica ad Herennium. In the 1st century AD, the Emperor Tiberius spent a brief term of exile on Rhodes, and Saint Paul brought Christianity to the island. Rhodes reached her zenith in the third century, and was then by common consent the most civilized and beautiful city in Hellas. In 395, the long Byzantine Empire period began for Rhodes, when the Roman Empire was split and the eastern half gradually became a Greek empire. -wikipedia

Mosaic from Hellenistic era on display at the Palace in the Old Town of Rhodes.



Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Cathedral







Ottoman Turkish architecture, as one time rulers of the island.







Rhodes has one of Europe's oldest Jewish communities predating the Sephardic migrations of the 1400's.

Synagogue





Jewish Holocaust memorial



The Italians ruled the island from 1912-48 and constructed many buildings in the Italian art deco or 'liberty' style, often drawing inspiration from gothic and moorish designs. They also restored many of the historic buildings, including the castle.

City gate



Theatre


pic from BristolMike

Casino





Market



Aquarium



Govt administrative building







Modern Art Gallery



Kalithea Springs on Rhodes







Lindos village



Lindos village details









Lindos night view



Extensive island coastline







Petaloudes: Valley of the Butterflies waterfall






most pics from Greek forum

There's even more to see and do on Rhodes.