Rhodes is one of the most popular Greek islands for people from all corners of the world, and for good reason. It’s home to stunning beaches with crystal-clear, turquoise waters. There’s the Old Town, a medieval gem of unbelievable beauty. The enchanting Valley of the Butterflies. The archaeological site of Lindos. Countless sun-filled days and warm temperatures even in winter.
We had the pleasure of witnessing the island’s beauty during a recent visit. Our tour around the island was made easier thanks to hiring a motor. We found the right vehicle for us on Avis.gr. It was comfortable to drive, sturdy, and economical in terms of fuel consumption — a crucial factor in these times of expensive petrol. We picked it up at the scheduled time from the Avis station at the airport. The exceedingly polite staff handed us the keys and gave us a thorough run-down of everything we needed to know.
Starting off from the airport, we decided to take a bit of a diversion, instead of heading straight to our accommodation in the city of Rhodes. We drove around 10 kilometers to pay a visit to the renowned Valley of the Butterflies. This visit proved to be an experience that will be etched in our memory for quite some time.
This valley is home to the unique Liquorice Tree, the only forest of its kind in Europe. Worth noting is that, during the summer months, the butterfly ‘panaxia quadripunctaria’ resides here, a rare butterfly species. They gather in droves in their thousands, on tree trunks and rocks near the water during the day, and higher in the foliage during the night, making the Valley a unique habitat.
Archangelos
Next stop on our itinerary was Archangelos, the largest village in Rhodes. The village’s claim to fame is the Church of Archangel Michael, which gave its name to the village. Constructed in the mid-19th century, it’s a lovely church with an exceptionally tall and intricate bell tower that can be seen from almost every vantage point in the village.
Despite being quite a tourist destination, Archangelos boasts many modest whitewashed houses with colourful archways. The most stunning vista of the village was when we climbed up to the medieval castle just before sunset and looked out over the village from on high. It was a sight to behold, and a perfect end to a wonderful day in Rhodes.
Visiting Lindos
On our second day on this splendid island, our next expedition was to Lindos, this ‘s second day. The imposing Acropolis, standing tall upon the high rock, was certainly an eyeful. We sauntered through its serpentine, complex alleyways for a whole day. Enjoyed a cracking meal at Mavrikos’ taverna, and popped over to its lovely beach.
We clambered up to the village’s highest point, marvelling at the surviving part of Lindos’ grand Doric temple. Following in the footsteps of the ancient inhabitants on the very path they trod to reach the Acropolis.
Upon reaching the archaeological site of the Acropolis, the first thing that struck us was a unique, embossed representation of an ancient ship etched into the rock. From there, a staircase leads to the buildings erected by the Knights of St. John, the medieval masters of the island.
Carrying on with our climb, we reached the Propylaea and the Hellenistic Stoa, one of the most beautiful remnants of ancient Hellenistic culture. The Temple of Athena and the large medieval fortress naturally dominate the top of the rock. The signs of time are visible everywhere, but the enchantment of this place persists, even centuries after it ceased to serve its religious purpose in antiquity or its strategic importance during the Middle Ages, when the Knights fortified this point to protect it from potential invasions.
Visiting Psinthos
Another village that tickled our fancy was Psinthos, about a three-quarters hour drive away and further south of the city of Rhodes. It’s a semi-mountainous village notable for its flowing water and plane trees, which initially give the impression we’ve popped over to a mainland Greece village. However, the traditional houses serve as a timely reminder that we’re still in Rhodes. The village has a rather lovely square with well-kept taverns, where we tucked into some top-notch meats.
We’ll remember our strolls on the four-season island offering a plethora of experiences for quite a while. It’s exactly what we were nattering about in the car on our last drive to the airport. We plan to bob back over to the island in the summer and visit places we didn’t manage to visit this time. Thanks to Avis and its car hire offers, it’s a doddle to make that happen.
