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Mandraki Harbor Tour of Rhodes (Self Guided), Rhodes
Mandraki is one of the three harbors in Rhodes. It is famous, because it is believed that the great statue of Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood at the harbor entrance. Today the deer sculptures at the entrance, the St. Nicholas Fortress and a number of medieval windmills create a charming view of the harbor. Many boat trips to other nearby islands leave from here. Discover this beautiful historical harbor on this tour.
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Mandraki Harbor Tour of Rhodes Map
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Guide Name: Mandraki Harbor Tour of Rhodes
Guide Location: Greece » Rhodes (See other walking tours in Rhodes)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 9
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Evangelismos Church
Main Post Office
New Market Hall
Windmills of Mandraki
Mandraki Harbour
St. Nicholas Fortress
Lighthouse of St. Nicholas Fortress
Rhodian Deer Statues
Colossus of Rhodes
1) Evangelismos Church
Evangelismos Church (also called The Church of the Annunciation) is located next to Mandraki Harbor. It was built in 1925 by the Italians, as Rhodes was an Italian city at that time. The church is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture. It is similar in design to St. John Church located in Old Town. This church is also dedicated to St. John. The interior is decorated with murals by Fotis Kontoglou.
Image by Magdalena Siudy on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.
2) Main Post Office
The Main Post Office in Rhodes is a stunning building located in Liberty Square, known locally as Plateia Eleftherias, in the modern city. It may not be one of the oldest constructions on the island, but its impressive Renaissance Eclecticism architectural style is nonetheless beautiful and worthwhile visiting. The Main Post Office was built during the first years of the Italian reign over the island, between 1912 and 1943. The post office was designed by Italian architect Florestano di Fausto. It has always maintained its function as the principal post office on the island, initially, under the Italian and, more recently, under the Greek postal service.
The façade is highly stylized and features impressive carvings and engravings into the local poros stone. Above the grand entrance there is an emblem of the god of sun and there are entrances to either side. The Main Post Office, like many of the buildings constructed during Italian sovereignty, were deliberately opulent in order to emphasize the superiority of the Italian reign, as well as to attract tourists to the new part of the city of Rhodes. The Main Post Office is open daily between 8:30am and 2:30pm.
Image by George Tasioulis on Flickr under Creative Commons License.
3) New Market Hall
New Market Hall is located opposite Mandraki Harbor. It is a long, white building with a magnificent entrance. The ground floor of the market houses a number of cafes and bars, and there are an array of taverns, shops and cafes located in the open area. Tourists like shopping at this market, as there are a lot of jewelry and gift shops here.
Image by Böhringer Friedrich on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.
4) Windmills of Mandraki (must see)
The Windmills of Mandraki are located on the wave breaker of Mandraki Harbor in Rhodes. These medieval windmills were used to ground the grain that came from the commercial ships docking in the harbor. It is believed that there were once 13 or 14 windmills, but most of them have disintegrated over time. Three of these beautiful structures have been renovated and stand as majestic reminders of times past.
5) Mandraki Harbour
Mandraki Harbour is the main harbor of Rhodes. Its entrance is described as the place where the Colossus of Rhodes was standing. Mandraki Harbour still remains the harbour that can offer trips on yachts and sailboats around the Town of Rhodes or other islands that are near Rhodes.
Image by Shadowgate on Flickr under Creative Commons License.
6) St. Nicholas Fortress
The imposing St. Nicholas Fortress is located in the Rhodes Old City looking out over Mandraki Harbor. In ancient times Mandraki Harbor was a military space and in the 15th century a guard tower was constructed there on the orders of Grand Master Raimondo Zacosta. Following the first siege, the tower was fortified. A bastion was added by Grand Master d'Aubusson and the newly formed fortress was named after the chapel inside it. It was largely thanks to the fortress that the Knights Hospitaller were able to fend off attacks from the Turks for so many years. Major sieges by the Turks were mounted in 1480 and 1522-23. The initial attack was thwarted, but the Turks ended up seizing power in 1522 and the Knights were forced to leave Rhodes.
When the fortress was built, it took into account the Ottoman use of cannons and other siege weaponry and its thick walls were impermeable for many years. Indeed considering their age, they are in excellent condition to this day. The fortress is hugely popular with visitors these days and it has been well preserved. You can walk along the path of the former moat, which has been dried out and provides a scenic, tree lined walking path.
Image by Shadowgate on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.
7) Lighthouse of St. Nicholas Fortress
The Lighthouse is located at the St. Nicholas Fortress in Mandraki Harbor. It dates back to 1863, during the Ottoman period. The Lighthouse was reactivated in 2007. It is a round, unpainted, white stone tower that displays two white flashes every twelve seconds, lighting the way for incoming ships.
Image by Mafue on Flickr under Creative Commons License.
8) Rhodian Deer Statues
Sculptures of Rhodian Deer, a stag and a doe, stand on slim columns on either side of the Mandraki Harbor entrance. It is believed that the statue of Colossus once stood here. Today these two charming Rhodian deer sculptures serve as the guardians of the harbor.
Image by Gérard Janot on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.
9) Colossus of Rhodes (must see)
The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 and 280 BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Before its destruction, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters (107 ft) high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. Ancient accounts describe the structure as being built with iron tie bars to which brass plates were fixed to form the skin. The interior of the structure, which stood on a 15-meter- (50-foot-) high white marble pedestal near the Mandraki Harbor entrance, was then filled with stone blocks as construction progressed. The statue stood for only 56 years until Rhodes was hit by an earthquake in 226 BC. The statue snapped at the knees and fell over onto land. Ptolemy III offered to pay for the reconstruction of the statue, but the Oracle of Delphi made the Rhodians afraid that they had offended Helios, and they declined to rebuild it.
Image by Dencey on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.
Sight description based on wikipedia
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