Lindos: The emblematic village of Rhodes with the ancient Acropolis and the enchanting beaches

In the southeastern part of Rhodes, quite far from the city, the picturesque, charming Lindos rightfully claims the title of the most beautiful village on the island and one of the most beautiful stations in the entire Dodecanese.

With a history that begins countless centuries ago, Lindos, with its imposing Acropolis still dominating the high rock, overlooking the sea, is the most important archaeological site of Rhodes and one of the most popular tourist spots. According to important findings that have been identified in the area, societies had developed in Lindos as early as the Neolithic years, however, the settlement reached its greatest height during the Archaic period, namely in the 7th and 6th centuriese.g. It is enough to spend just one day there, in the intricate cobbled streets of the mountain village to remember forever the captivating atmosphere of tradition that dominates every corner, outside every house and in front of every shop and the sweet smells of the citrus trees in bloom around the village.

Lindos looks like a place enclosed in a space-time parallel, as it is beautifully "confined" in labyrinthine turns that climb upwards and reach the foot of the Acropolis. Filled from end to end with wonderful residences reminiscent of another era, aristocratic and authentic , a real mark – a vestige of the Venetian past of this beautiful island. Walk for hours in the alleys and browse the shops selling souvenirs – of course the cute, colorful magnets are the star, as are the beautiful, local ceramics to decorate your home.

Acropolis of Lindos

Climb to the highest point of the village to admire the part of the magnificent Doric temple of Lindos that is preserved to this day, stepping on the same path that the ancient inhabitants followed to reach the Acropolis of the settlement . Much later, Lindos passed into the hands of the Knights , which significantly contributed to the strongly multifaceted character of the area.

To get to the Acropolis simply follow the signs inside the village along the entire route. For those who do not want to walk, at the entrance of the village there are donkeys that transport visitors to the archaeological site, however, it is good to remember that during the summer months when the heat is tiring in itself this route can prove painful for the little ones our four-legged friends. The same for us, of course, so start your walk early in the morning when the sun has not yet risen in the sky, always having water and a hat with you.

In about 10 minutes you will have reached the archaeological site of the Acropolis. The first thing you will see is the bas-relief representation of an ancient ship carved into a rock. Climb a large staircase that leads directly to the old administrative buildings of the Knights, but also to the church of Agios Ioannis , the construction of which dates back to the 13th or 14th century. Stop to admire the view and continue the climb up another impressive staircase that leads to the Propylaea and the magnificent Hellenistic Stoa , a magnificent sight of the area and one of the finest examples of ancient Greek culture you will ever see in island Greece.

At the top of the rock you will see the temple of Athena, built in the Doric style on the ruins of an older temple. Around the large fortress that was additionally constructed in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John in an attempt to ensure the integrity of Rhodes against a possible attack by the Ottoman army.