Historically, the island is famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The medieval Old Town of Rhodes has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Rhodes is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
Because of its strategic position at the crossroads between the East and West, Rhodes has been the subject of constant attacks and invasions since ancient times. In the 16th century BC the Minoans came to Rhodes and afterwards, the Mycenaean Greeks invaded. In the 8th century BC the island’s main settlements were founded by the Dorians, who built the three important towns of Lindos, Ialyssos and Kameiros. The Persians invaded and overran the island, but they were in turn defeated by the Athenians in 478 BC and consequently the Rhodian towns joined the Athenian League.
In 408 BC, the towns united to form one territory. The town of Rhodes was built as the new capital on the northernmost tip of the island. Rhodes then became part of the growing empire of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The island developed into a maritime, commercial and cultural center; its coins circulated nearly everywhere in the Mediterranean. It had famous schools of philosophy, science and literature. After the fall and fragmentation of Alexander’s Empire the island of Rhodes fought for its independance and, following a long siege, triumphed in 305 BC. It was during this period that the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was constructed and straddled the harbor. This impressive giant statue of the sun god Helios stood tall until it was destroyed during an earthquake in 226 BC.
For a period of 150 years, the island flourished and its people developed formidable navigation and maritime skills, establishing themselves as some of the best ancient seafarers. In 70 AD Rhodes fell under Roman rule that lasted for 300 years. Then, after the decline of the Roman Empire, it became part of the Byzantine Empire. In the following centuries, Rhodes was conquered in succession by the Persians, Arabs and Turks due to its strategic geographical position.
The history of Rhodes has been predominantly marked by the arrival ot the Knights Hospitaller who fled the Holy Lands in 1291. The knights fortified the town of Rhodes with citadels and castles, and built the Palace of the Grand Master. Many castles were also built in the countryside, such as the Castle of Monolithos and the medieval Castle of Kritinia. In 1523, after a long siege, the Ottomans took control of the island which remained under their rule until 1912. During the First World War Rhodes was occupied by the Italians untill 1943. During this period the island developed significantly. New infrastructure was built, important historical sites were restored and public buldings such as the National Theatre were constructed. In 1947, Rhodes and all Dodecanese islands became part of the Greek State.