LINDOS
Seen from a distance the town of Lindos looks like a layer cake: the first blue layer is the enchanting Aegean sea, followed by a green layer of Mediterranean trees, then a white layer of traditional Greek houses, and finally a cream layer, the color of the stones with which the Acropolis and the ancient ruins that overlook the city were built. It is considered "the most Greek" of the cities of Rhodes, an island geographically much closer to Turkey than to Greece. Its very narrow alleys lined with traditional tavernas, restaurants, bars and shops are filled with tourists in the central hours of the day, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to walk: a scene that you will certainly have already seen if you have visited the most famous Greek islands. If so many people flock to this small town perched on a hill, it is evident that it is an enchanting place.
Of very ancient origins - the first settlements date back to about 3000 years ago - and dominated over the centuries by Greeks, Byzantines, Franks and Turks, Lindos undeniably retains a unique and bewitching charm. Picturesque monasteries, breathtaking views of the sea, delightful restaurants with a roof terrace, millenary buildings that stand out against a crystal clear blue sky all make it easy to understand why little Lindos is the pearl of Rhodes.
The Acropolis
The top attraction of Lindos is the splendid Acropolis on top of the hill on which the city stands. Emblem of Lindos, it dates back to the 6th century BC and includes a series of impressive ancient ruins set in an enchanting landscape with splendid views of the Aegean Sea. The most important remains are the Temple of Athena and the Hellenistic stoa, a portico with twenty columns. In medieval times the acropolis was enclosed within the Castle of the Knights, a fortress with mighty defensive walls.
The Captain Houses
The Captain Houses are exactly what the name suggests: mighty stately homes built in the past centuries by wealthy captains and ship owners. Some date back to the Middle Ages, while the most recent are from the eighteenth century. They are larger and more elegant than the typical white houses clustered in the center of Lindos. Protected by high walls that hide a graceful entrance courtyard, the captains' houses have Gothic arched openings and oriental-inspired décor, numerous plants and floral ornamental motifs. Today many of these houses have become restaurants, charming hotels or exclusive holiday homes.
Churches
In the center of the village there is the Church of the Panagia, a typical Byzantine church that deserves a visit inside for its beautiful 17th century frescoes and icons. You will easily recognize it from the high tower decorated with the coat of arms of Pierre d'Aubusson, a French cardinal who lived between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries who left his homeland and settled in Rhodes, and who went down in history as a fierce opponent of the Ottoman Empire. Other churches of Lindos worthy of note are Agios Georgios, the small Agios Demetrios at the entrance to the acropolis and Agios Pavlos, a small and charming white chapel in the bay of Saint Paul.
Beaches
With public amenities and restaurants close by, the most popular beach in the town is Lindos Beach, also known as Main Beach or Megali Paralia. The biggest beach in the area, Lindos Beach is a crescent of fine white sand that curves along Lindos Bay in between two rocky headlands and boasts unrivaled views of the town and Acropolis.
Just across the eastern headland lies Pallas Beach, a smaller and quieter sandy beach that’s popular with the locals. Its shallow waters make it great for kids, while the town and Acropolis looming just above makes it a great place for quiet contemplation.
Pictures just don’t do justice to the beauty of Saint Paul’s Bay. A little away from town towards the south, this isolated and rocky cove is great for intrepid snorkelers, intent on exploring the area’s marine life and offers two fully equipped beaches.