Rhodes: The Mediterranean's Scepter'd Isle

An early afternoon flight with British Airways from London Gatwick to Rhodes. Transfer by private coach to the Rodos Park Suites and Spa, a modern 5-star hotel just outside the walls of the mediaeval city. After some time to settle in our rooms, we then walk to Agios Phanourios Street for dinner in the courtyard of an old Rhodian mansion at the Marco Polo Hotel.

In the morning we leave by private coach for an excursion to ancient Lindos. En route we will stop to see the Thermal Spas of Kallithea designed by Pietro Lombardi in 1927. We then continue to Afandou and visit the curious Church of the Panaghia Katholikì close to the shore.  We head inland for lunch in rural the small town of Psinthos followed by a visit to one of the hidden rural Byzantine chapels, painted with mediaeval frescoes. We then continue to Lindos to visit the magnificently painted church of the Panagia, followed by a visit to the Sanctuary of Athena on the ancient Acropolis of  Lindos.  After some free time to explore the streets and shops of Lindos we will enjoy sunset cocktails and dinner in Mavrikos Restaurant, one of Lindos’ oldest and most stylish restaurants. After dinner we will return to Rhodes by coach.

In the morning we walk into the walled city along the Street of the Knights to the Knights’ Infirmary and visit the Archaeological Museum. We then continue to private visit to the exquisite garden of the Marc de Montalembert Foundation, which has been restored by the owners in memory of their son. This tranquil ‘white’ garden is bounded by the impressive walls of the city and lies, almost unseen, in the shadow of the Grand Master’s Palace. The visit includes a private view of the fine 14th century monastery church of St. George and an adjacent, recently restored, Ottoman mansion.  After a group lunch we visit the area of the ‘New City’ designed by the architects of the island’s Italian colonial masters in the 1920s and 30s, finishing at the Rhodes Aquarium to visit the ancient seal burial with a coach transfer back to the hotel.

The day will be dedicated to a day excursion by local catamaran to the nearby island of Symi, one of the most unusual islands of the Dodecanese, with an architecture quite different from Rhodes. Entering the great amphitheatre of Neoclassical mansions which form its harbour is a thrilling experience. An orientation walk through Gialós to the principal points of interest, to explain about the great wealth derived from the sponge farming and trading of the island which gave rise to the very impressive, yet functional, architecture. After lunch we will drive across the island’s rocky interior to the Monastery of the Archangel Michael Panormitis. We then return by catamaran to Rhodes

In the morning we leave by coach to go down the west coast of the island to the fascinating and little-visited site of Ancient Kameiros, a well-preserved ancient city which remained buried and was consequently never built over in post-classical times. We then continue to Salakos and into the orchard-clad centre of the island. After lunch in Appollona at a rural taverna with its traditional local recipes, we continue past the abandoned Italian ‘hill-station’ of Eleousa, and the tiny, painted Byzantine church of Ag. Nikolaos Foundoukli.  We continue to drive through the beautiful, forested interior of the island to the Elaphos hotel and a chance to admire the wildflowers in full bloom along the way. After enjoying a local coffee at the Elaphos hotel we return to Rhodes town for final drinks and dinner.

After a morning and lunch at leisure we will leave by coach for the airport for a late afternoon flight with British Airways to London Gatwick.