The Palace of the Grand Masters, a symbol of the history of Rhodes

With its own distinctive way of standing out from the old town of Rhodes, the Palace of the Grand Masters is emblematic of the history of the entire island since the arrival of the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. They arrived on Rhodes in 1310, having been expelled from the Holy Land where this hospitable order was founded during the Crusades.

As is often the case in Greece, the site of the palace had been occupied since Antiquity, then during the Byzantine period. Anxious to protect himself from outside attacks, Grand Master Hélion de Villeneuve had an ancient citadel enlarged, transforming it into a veritable fortified palace, a new centre of power for the Order. This work, accompanied by solid ramparts, proved its worth over the course of the two centuries spent by the Knights of St John in Rhodes. In the 16th century, Ottoman pressure was strong: in 1522, after a five-month siege, the Hospitallers were defeated by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and left Rhodes for Malta.

The palace suffered two serious setbacks during the Ottoman period: an earthquake in 1851, followed by a powder explosion five years later! From its former splendour, the Palace of the Grand Masters was now in a state of ruin.

On the eve of the First World War, Rhodes and the Dodecanese came under Italian rule. Later, in 1937, the Fascist regime, which readily claimed to be descended from the Knights of St John, decided to renovate the Palace of the Grand Masters, a little to their liking... as the specialists were sure to notice!

Destined to become Mussolini's residence, the dictator never actually made it to Rhodes... which, after all its ups and downs, finally rejoined Greece in 1948.

It would be a shame to miss out on a visit to the Palace of the Grand Masters, even if, admittedly, the site is sorely lacking in explanatory panels: find out more beforehand, or hire the services of a guide to find out more about its history.

A visit to the Palace of the Grand Masters is more like wandering from room to room and through the central courtyard, admiring the superb frescoes and ornamental mosaics from the Hellenistic period, period costumes, furniture, sculptures, etc. On the ground floor, two small, interesting exhibitions retrace the ancient history of Rhodes up to the Roman Empire, then from the Byzantine period to the Ottoman conquest of the island.

To complete the visit, don't hesitate to venture out onto the ramparts (entrance fee payable), which can be accessed from the Palace of the Grand Masters: please note that opening times are not the same. It's a pleasant walk, not least because of the breathtaking views over the old town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.