The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes Greece

The archaeological museum inside this grand historic castle gives archaeology and history buffs double the pleasure of discovery. The building itself is worth a visit, but to find a museum inside makes this stop is especially rewarding. You will find stacks of cannon balls and the spoils of various military campaigns on display along with statuary and beautiful mosaic floors.

The Hospital of the Knights, Rhodes Tours — The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes Greece, Tours of Rhodes — The entrance of the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes Greece, Rhodes Private Tours — The main courtyard of the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes Greece, Rhodes Tours — In the main courtyard sits a lion, of Lardos stone, with the head of a bull between its front paws.

This was the new Hospital of the Knights and their original raison d’etre (reason for being). Begun in 1440, over the remains of a Roman building, it was not until the Grand Master d’Aubusson oversaw the project for over 40 years on that it was completed. It was built along similar lines to Byzantine hostelries and is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece.

Allure Tours of Rhodes, mosaic floor — A mosaic floor from Arkasa on Karpathos.

Crouching Venus, Rhodes Taxi Tours — "Crouching Venus" The beautiful statue of Aphrodite bathing, 1st century BC

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Rhodes Shore Excursions — The outside stairway leads to the upper floor

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Rhodes Greece Tours — From the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece

The entrance opens into a courtyard, surrounded by a galleried upper story accessed by an outside stairway. Stone fragments and stacks of cannonballs, relics from various sieges, lie on the ground. During the Ottoman era it was used variously as a hospital then ignobly as a barracks. It was restored by the Italian administration in 1913-18 and later used to house the Rhodes Archaeological Museum. The Museum contains various collections of archaeological artifacts from various parts of Rhodes and the neighbouring islands.