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Palace of the Grand Master or Knights of Rhodes
The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, also known as the Castello, is located on the northwestern edge of the medieval town of Rhodes. Perched at the highest point of the castle, it stands as one of the most significant landmarks from the era of the Knights of St. John.
History of the Palace
Built in the 14th century by the Knights Hospitaller, who ruled Rhodes from 1309 until 1522, the Palace of the Grand Master was constructed on the site of an earlier Byzantine acropolis dating back to the 7th century AD. Serving as both the administrative center for the Knights and the residence of the Grand Master, the palace was also the hub of Rhodes' governing social and intellectual elite.
After the Ottomans captured the island in 1522, they repurposed the damaged palace as a prison. However, the palace suffered further destruction in 1856 following an explosion of stored ammunition in its underground chambers, which severely damaged most of the structure.
When the island came under the control of the Kingdom of Italy in 1912, the Italians restored and renovated the palace between 1937 and 1940 under the supervision of the Italian Governor of the Dodecanese, Cesare Maria De Vecchi. During this period, the palace was given a more medieval appearance, serving as the residence of the Italian governor as well as a summer residence for King Victor Emmanuel III and later, Benito Mussolini. The latter's name is still visible on a large plaque near the entrance. Unfortunately, much of the original structure was altered during the restoration, but the result remains impressive to this day.
After the Dodecanese Islands were annexed by Greece in 1948, the Greek authorities transformed the palace's first floor into a museum. Today, it houses various artistic creations, folk art from antiquity and the medieval period, weapons, medieval tombstones, jewelry, books, paintings, statues, and other artifacts. The Palace of the Grand Master is now one of the top attractions in the medieval town of Rhodes, drawing visitors from all over the world.
