Palace of the Grand Masters, Rhodes Town, Rhodes, Greece

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Palace of the Grand Master

Rhodes Town


From the outside, this magnificent castle-like palace looks much as it did when erected by the 14th-century Knights Hospitaller. During the 19th century, however, it was devastated by an explosion, so the interior is now an Italian reconstruction, completed in the '18th year of the Fascist Era' (1940). Dreary chambers upstairs hold haphazard looted artworks, so the most interesting sections are the twin historical museums downstairs, one devoted to ancient Rhodes and the other to the island’s medieval history.

The ancient section holds some lovely pottery from the 6th century BC, along with all sorts of everyday domestic objects and even glassware.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rhodes Town attractions

1. Old Town Walls

0.04 MILES

Rhodes' Old Town is rare indeed in retaining its 500-year-old fortifications all but intact. On weekdays, visitors can grasp their sheer scale by walking…

2. St Anthony's Gate

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The innermost gate that leads into the Old Town near the palace, an impressive 200m walk in from the D’Amboise Gate. Italian troops entered Rhodes along…

3. Inn of Provence

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Four coats of arms on the Inn of Provence form the shape of a cross. After Rhodes fell to the Ottomans, the building became a hammam (Turkish bath), while…

4. Moat Walkway Entrance

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The path at the foot of the stairway that drops from the arch alongside St Anthony’s Gate passes through a 30m tunnel in the walls to reach the broadest…

5. Inn of Spain

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Halfway up the Street of the Knights, the Inn of Spain is the largest inn of all. Its two connected wings were built under Grand Master Antoine Fluvian …

6. D'Amboise Gate

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Set in the northwestern flank of the citadel walls, and completed in 1512 under the rule of Grand Master Emery d'Amboise, the most impressive approach to…

7. Knights’ Quarter

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8. Roloi Clock Tower

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Commanding the highest point in the Old Town, this sturdy clocktower offers a tremendous panorama. Dating originally from the 7th century, it was damaged…

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