Activities

Kolymbia Beach

Kolymbia beach, the closest beach to Serenity Villas, is a small natural bay with an organized pebbled beach that has umbrellas and sunbeds and a variety of water sports. The crystal clear waters combined with the green background are a huge appeal to the visitors and a great theme for their photos.

Tsambika Beach

Just a few minutes drive from Serenity Villas, the long sandy Tsambika beach stands under an imposing rock, on top of which you can see the chapel of Tsambika. Turquoise waters and golden sands create a beautiful scenery, ideal for relaxing and enjoying the sun. Tsambika is an organized, family friendly beach. A number of beach bars and cafes offer food and drinks and there are also watersports centers offering parasailing, jetskis, flyboarding and other activities.

Agios Pavlos

The little bay of Agios Pavlos (Saint Paul) lies 25 km south of Kolimbia, at the edge of the town of Lindos. According to a local myth, the bay owes its name to the lovely white chapel standing on the beach which is dedicated to Saint Paul, who came on Rhodes in 43 AD and preached Christianity. The beach consists of golden sand and pebbles and a sun bed area is vailable. Rocks surround the beach, giving the possibility to dive into the clean turquoise waters.

Afandou Beach

The extremely long and large beach of Afandou is just a few minutes drive north of Kolymbia. The beach is made of sand and pebbles and offers many facilities. Afandou beach is also ideal for windsurfing. Its deep, clear waters are ideal for swimming and remain quite refreshing even under the hot sun.

Prassonissi

The large sandy beach of Prassonisi lies 70km South of Kolymbia, on the southermost tip of Rhodes. Prassonissi is known as a windsurfing and kitesurfing paradise, especially during the months of July and August, when the North wind called Meltemi are blowing. The beach consists of two sandy coves that meet at a rocky island that can be reached either on foot or swimming, depending on the tide. Windsurfing equipment is available for rent. Tavernas and cafes can be found close to the beach. The landscape is mesmerizing and the waters are amazingly clear..

Theologos Beach

The beach of Theologos is located 25km from Kolymbia, on the Northern coast of the island. The large lovely beach offers umbrellas and sunbeds, and a variety of watersports, including windsurfing. The crystal clear waters and the green landscape create a magnificent environment for the visitors. There are a few taverns around the beach that serve delicious food.

The Palace of Grand Masters in Rhodes

The Palace of Grand Masters is located at the end of the Street of the Knights in the Old Town of Rhodes. Originally built on the foundations of the Temple of Sun God (Helios), whose cult was much spread on Rhodes in the antiquity, this palace was the residence of the governor and administrative center in the Medieval times. Constructed in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John, it distinguishes for the spherical towers and the arched gate.

The palace was enormous in size. It had 158 rooms, although today only 24 are open to visitors. The rooms have antique furniture of the 16th and the 17th century, exquisite multi-colored marbles, sculptures, carpets, and fine Oriental vases. On the first floor, there are the official rooms as well as the private quarters of the Grand Master. On the ground floor, the auxiliary rooms are found. The most important rooms are the Grand Reception Hall, the Waiting Room, the impressive ballroom and the elegant Music Room, while not to miss is the Medusa Mosaic.

Of special significance are the frescoes by renowned artists, including P. Gaudenzi and F. Vellan, let alone the floors paved with a mosaic of ancient Roman and Byzantine art. In addition, the interior yard is adorned with many statues of the Greek and Roman period.

Unfortunately, this magnificent building was largely destroyed in 1856 by explosives, hidden in the basement of the church of Saint John. At the beginning of the 20th century, the palace was restored by the Italians who occupied the Dodecanese islands that time. In the years that followed, it served as a holiday residence for the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III and for Benito Mussolini. Today, it belongs to the Greek State and hosts an interesting museum inside. Also, various exhibitions and performances frequently take place in the palace rooms.

The site of Ancient Lindos in Rhodes

The ancient town of Lindos, 45 km to the south of Rhodes Town, was founded by the Dorians in the 10th century B.C. In the 8th century, it already was a major trading center, due to its geographical position between Greece and the Middle East. However, it started to decline when the city of Rhodes was founded, in the 5th century.

The archaeological remains found inside and around the Acropolis of Lindos reveal the wealth of this ancient town. Part of its worth-visiting monuments is a Doric 4th-century temple devoted to Athena Lindia, where people used to worship their patron goddess with offerings and sacrifices. It was built on the remains of another temple.

The Propylaea (the gateways) of the Sanctuary consists of a staircase and five-door openings. You will have the chance to see the relief of an ancient warship, called trireme, at the foot of the staircase. Apart from these, there is also a Roman temple dedicated to the emperor Diocletian and a Hellenistic wall that surrounds the Acropolis.

All these ancient sites are protected by a Medieval Castle, built in the early 14th century by the Knights of St John. Two towers of the castle are well-preserved till today. Outside the castle, on the southwest side of the will, there used to be an ancient theatre. Today the only remains of it are some rows of seats, part of the auditorium. It is believed that the theatre could host 1,800 spectators.

The excavations at the archaeological site of Lindos started in the early 20th century. The Italians, who occupied Rhodes island from 1912-1945, tried to restore the ancient findings but they actually damaged part of them. The site today belongs to the Greek Ministry of Culture and much work is being done, by both Greek and foreign archaeologists, to protect this monument.

Seven Springs in Rhodes

The Seven Springs which is popularly referred to as the Epta Piges is easily considered to be one of the most romantic sites on the island of Rhodes. It is ideally located between Colymbia and Archipolis. The entire area has tranquility written all over and is replete with verdant woodlands.

Related Tour: Lindos and Seven Springs tour, from 25.00 €

The stunning gorge has seven sparkling springs and a few rivers, which never run out of the water, even during the sizzling hot summer season. All of them form a lake, which was built by the Italians primarily to irrigate the plains of Colymbia. Apart from its romantic surroundings, visitors also like to drink the refreshing water of the springs.

There are many beautiful walking trails nearby and one can walk along stately Pine trees which is like a breath of fresh air. There is a dark tunnel, which only adds to the fun. The lake can be easily reached by a mere five minutes walk. The serene Seven Springs are almost hidden by the thick woodlands. This particular area of Rhodes is ideal for picnics and there is also a cozy taverna where one can relax and unwind in the lap of nature.

First-time visitors would do well to undertake a walk down to the 1 km long tunnel, which leads to the shimmering lake. You have two options. One is by walking on the road above the tunnel and the other is by walking through the dark tunnel.

Ancient Kameiros in Rhodes Dodecanese

The site of Ancient Kameiros is located on the northwest coast of the island, about 50 km from Rhodes. Kameiros was one of the most powerful towns in the ancient times and along with Lindos and Ialyssos, they formed the powerful city-state of Rhodes in the 5th century BC. Today, only a few remains stand from the town.

Ancient Kameiros was founded by the Dorians in the prehistoric times and it was later inhabited by the Achaeans. Items that have been found a date to as back as the 8th century BC. The town was destroyed two times by earthquakes, one in 226 BC and the second in 142 BC, after which it was abandoned.

Ancient Kameiros was built in three levels. On top of the hill, there was the Acropolis with the temple of the goddess Athena Kameiras. In the 6th century BC, a reservoir was built that could cover the needs of 400 families. Around this reservoir, the inhabitants constructed a Stoa with two rooms of Doric columns. The main settlement was built around the Acropolis and it had parallel streets and residences. The lower level consisted of a Doric temple dedicated to Apollo and the Agora, the place where political issues were discussed.

Ancient Kameiros was first excavated in the 1850s and the 1860s, where the Acropolis was found. In 1928, when Rhodes was still under Italian rule, the Italian Archaeological School continued the excavation and restoration works till the end of the Second World War when the Italian domination on the Dodecanese was over.

The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika in Rhodes, Dodecanese

The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika in Rhodes, Dodecanese: The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika is located about 25 km south of Rhodes Town, between Kolymbia and Archangelos. The old monastery of Tsambika is built on top of a hill with a gorgeous view to the sea and the surrounding area, while the new monastery, which works today, is found on the road that connects Archangelos to Rhodes Town.

It is not known when the old monastery was founded, but we know that it was reconstructed in 1770 by a monk. Some resources mention that the altar to goddess Artemis would stand on the same site in the antiquity and sacrifices of animals used to take place there. This monastery was built according to the Dodecanesian architecture with hollow roof tiles. The floor of the temple and the yard are covered with pebbles and shells. Some icons date from the 19th century, while the iconostasis is even older.

The name of the monastery comes from the word tsamba, which means spark in the local dialect. In fact, tradition says that a local shepherd found an icon of Virgin Mary on top of the cliff, where the old monastery was later built, following a vigil light. The icon of Panagia Tsambika is considered miracle-working, particularly for the childless women, which is why many women offer to the icon of Panagia child dolls. This monastery is considered a protector of the island and in fact, many locals are named Tsambikos for men and Tsambika for women.

The Castle of Kritinia in Rhodes, Dodecanese

On a hill approximately 131 meters above the village of Kritinia, northern Rhodes, stand the ruins of a medieval castle. This castle was constructed by the Knights of Saint John and has elements of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. It was originally built on three levels and each level was assigned to a different Grand Master.

Related Tour: Island bus tour around Rhodes, from 40.00 €

The castle is a short climb from the asphalt road and its location offers a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea, the neighboring island of Halki and the port of Kameiros. Inside the walls, there are the remnants of a chapel. In the close monastery of Saint John, you can view lovely wall paintings from the 16th century. In summer, there are few events taking place in this Castle, such as festivities from the Medieval Rose Festival that is organized every June.

The Valley of Butterflies in Rhodes

The Valley of Butterflies is found in the western side of Rhodes island, approximately 27 km from Rhodes city and 5 km to the southeast of Theologos village. It is a natural reserve, unique of its kind. As its name indicates, this area is a lush green valley that gets overwhelmed in spring and autumn with butterflies of the Panaxia genus, species Quadripunctaria Poda.

Related Tour: Valley of the butterflies and Filerimos hill, from 20.00 €

During the raining seasons, butterflies stay in the caterpillars, in various areas around the Mediterranean Sea. However, in spring, when they get out of their caterpillar and become a full butterfly, they fly to areas of high humidity in order to reproduce. That is why they come to this valley, which is crossed by river Pelekanos and many waterfalls are scattered all along it. Over the years, the valley of butterflies has turned into a popular tourist attraction.

Every year, from May to September, thousands of visitors come to watch this lovely species and walk through narrow paths. The coolness of this place, the flowing waters and the shade of the trees make it ideal to rest, especially during the hot summer days. Small, wooden bridges cross the river and an uphill path leads to the Monastery of Panagia Kalopetra. Unfortunately, tourism flow has a negative impact on the butterfly population.

Visitors must know that butterflies do not have a stomach. They just restore energy in their body to use it when needed. They do not eat until the reproduction period, so when visitors disturb butterflies, they fly away and consume valuable energy. So, keep in mind that it is strictly forbidden to disturb butterflies in any way. Visitors are only allowed to look at them.

All in all, this amazing valley constitutes an excellent destination for an excursion. If you get tired, you can have a refreshment drink or lunch in the picturesque taverns with a view to the waterfalls and enjoy the natural beauty!