Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights

Imposing and imbued with history, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes dominates the northwestern side of the medieval town of Rhodes, inviting you to live the magic of a distant past.

A monument of the UNESCO world heritage, it is the most important structure dated from the era of the knights, and a major landmark of the island, with thousands of visitors every year. A building of 14th century Gothic architecture, it was constructed by the Knights of the Order of St. John at the location of an older 7th century Byzantine Acropolis. At this very location it is presumed that stood one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the famous Colossus of Rhodes.

The palace was the administrative center of the knights, home of the Grand Master and seat of the dominant social and intellectual classes of the island. During the period of the Ottoman occupation of the island, the palace suffered major destruction due to an explosion; The damages were fully repaired during the Italian occupation, when the Palace of the Grand Master became seat of the Italian administration.

Since 1948, following the annexation of Rhodes to Greece, the first floor of the Palace of the Grand Master was turned into a museum with a variety of findings from the ancient to medieval times. Of special interest are the mosaics masterfully executed and brought from the island of Kos mainly, bearing ancient Roman and Byzantine techniques, as well as the collection of 16th and 17th century furniture. In the rooms of the basement, serving during the era of the knights as ancillary areas like kitchens and stables, today one can enjoy two permanent exhibition areas on the history of ancient and medieval Rhodes.

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