Palace of the Grand Masters

The Palace of the Grand Masters is also known as the Castello and is located at the highest point of the Knight’s Street at the Old City of Rhodes. This structure is magnificent and imposing at the same time due to its big dimensions as it measures 80 by 75 meters and the strength of the fortress around it. The Palace has to be approached on foot, since no vehicles are allowed inside the Old City.

History:

The Palace was initially built during the 7^th century during the Byzantine era by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The walls around this Palace were so strong that they managed to withstand various sieges and wars. The Palace was also used as a prison by the Turks, but suffered major damage due to an explosion in 1856. The Italians decided to rebuild it for their King Victor Emmanuel to make it a fitting residence, and was restored to its full glory by 1940. Currently, the entire palace has been opened to the visitors. The lower part of the building has been used to exhibit Greek history, while the upper portions have been artfully done with artificial lighting in Italian design and the provision of modern facilities like lifts and restrooms.

Sculptures, Paintings and Much More…

The true beauty and splendour of the Grand Master’s Palace lies in the grandeur of detailing. The mosaic floors are beautiful and on the stone-paved patio stand the various sculptures from the Roman and Hellenistic Periods, whereas the furniture on display is from the 15^th – 19^th century. There are a total of 158 rooms in this Palace, but only 24 of them are open to the public, which include the reception area, waiting room, ball-room and Medusa’s music rooms etc. All rooms are lavishly furnished with sculptures, paintings and various artefacts. Since this type of rare history is hardly on display anywhere else in the world, it makes the Palace of the Grand Master’s a must visit spot during your visit to the island of Rhodes, Greece.