Discover the wonder of Lindos on Rhodes
No holiday in Rhodes is complete without visiting Lindos. Not just because of the 3rd century BC acropolis found there, or even because of the sugar-cubed houses and labyrinth of alleyways of the town loved by everyone who passes through.
It’s because climbing to Lindos’ temple, 116m above sea level, you follow exactly the same path as the ancients who built the acropolis and the knights that used it as a place of worship and defence. That incredible vista of the Aegean Sea and St Paul’s Bay below … it’s exactly the same view that would have inspired them back in the day.
So when you are in Rhodes, make sure to put Lindos on your holiday wish list. The archaeological site; the shops, cafes and restaurants of Lindos village; and the beaches that you can pick out from the temple will reward you for it. And if you want an insider’s tip: Stay till sunset and have dinner at a rooftop terrace in town. The light is incredible.
Highlights of Lindos in Rhodes
The medieval fortifications
One of the first impressions you’ll have of the Acropolis of Lindos is how the constructions of antiquity and later generations have merged to become one. Just by the Hellenistic exedra (seating area) is the Administrative Building of the Knights (from the Knights of St John) and the Byzantine Church of Agios Ioannis.
The Propylaea
Near the entrance, you’ll find a 280 BC relief of the prow of a ship – a nod to Rhodes’ naval prowess which continued until long after the knights of the Middle Ages had moved on. Climbing a grand staircase, you reach the Propylaea (temple entrance) and the remains of a Hellenistic stoa (pillared hall).
Temple of Athina Lindias
The crowning glory of the Acropolis of Lindos is its temple, built in around 300 BC on the site of an older temple. From here, you can look down on a theatre and contemplate the myth of the temple being founded by Danaus, who came to the island with his 50 daughters to escape the rage of the goddess Hera. Unless, that is, you’re preoccupied by those astonishing Aegean views … or the beach you’re about to head to … or Lindos village… or the rooftop restaurant you’ll choose for dinner.