Ottoman Rhodes
Several mosques in Rhodes Town offer a reminder of Ottoman Rhodes, along with a delightful Muslim cemetery.
The Mosque of Suleiman in Rhodes Town
Ottoman buildings on Rhodes have tended to suffer neglect since the Turks were ousted from the island in 1912. However, sporadic refurbishment of Turkish buildings does take place, and the sizeable Muslim population on Rhodes ensures continuing use of several historic mosques in Rhodes Town.
Tzamí Souleïmán
There is no Turkish Quarter as such, but there are a number of splendid old mosques scattered throughout the Old Town. Finest of these is Tzamí Souleïmán, or Mosque of Suleiman, erected by the Turkish conqueror of Rhodes in 1522 as a thanksgiving for his triumph. Its rose-red walls and shallow dome dominate the top end of Sokratous.
Other Mosques
Other notable buildings are Tzamí Retset Pascha and the impressive Tzamí Sultan Mustafá. At the northern end of the New Town is Tzamí Tou Mourad Reïs, located within an engagingly unkempt and tree-shaded Muslim cemetery.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
Muslim Cemetery
The entrance courtyard has hokhláki (pebble mosaic) flooring and in one corner stands the little circular mausoleum of Mourad Reïs, a commander of the Turkish navy during the 1522 siege of Rhodes. The cemetery has its own little forest of slender gravestones; the male memorials crowned with turbans, the female memorials, simple blades of stone. There are a number of domed tombs, one containing the remains of a Shah of Persia.
Some Cool Rhodes Souvenirs
Villa Cleobolus
At the northern end of the graveyard is the Villa Cleobolus, once home to the novelist Lawrence Durrell and now renovated as a small museum-cum-gallery. His book about Rhodes, Reflections on a Marine Venus, is well worth reading.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
-
Step off the beaten path this spring and discover the enchanting — and often surprising — Easter traditions found across Greece.
Read More
-
In the castle town of Monemvasia, with its dramatic medieval backdrop and sea views, Easter is a deeply spiritual and atmospheric experience.
Read More
-
Sifnos, a Cycladic island, is gaining fame for its rich culinary heritage, especially the beloved melopita honey-cheese tart.
Read More
-
In Leonidio, Easter comes alive with handmade hot air balloons in the sky and lanterns made from bitter oranges in the streets.
Read More
-
Transportation and travel across Greece will face disruptions on Wednesday, April 9, as public transport, ferry and aviation workers join a nationwide strike called by Greek labor unions.
Read More
-
The Greek Culture Ministry has announced that the first ancient theater ever identified in the Ionian Islands has recently been brought fully to light on Lefkada, revealing an impressive monument that…
Read More
-
From traditional barrel-making to age-old folk dances, seven new entries on Greece’s National Inventory preserve the country’s living heritage for future generations.
Read More
-
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Union have announced a 24-hour strike for Wednesday, April 9, in response to the protest called by the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY). The strike is being h…
Read More
-
Greece Travel Secrets picks the ten best budget hotels on Santorini, some with caldera views, some near beaches and some close to the heart of Fira.
Read More
-
The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced its participation in the 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) on Wednesday, April 9. The strike, which will…
Read More