Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

Located at the center of the Medieval Town, right by the famous Street of the Knights, the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes exhibits very important collections of findings that highly regarded museums like Le Louvre, are particularly keen to host periodically. Don’t let the understated appearance of the building of the Museum fool you, it has its own story to narrate.

Constructed by the Grand Master Jean de Lastic in 1440 and later enlarged by the Grand Master d’Aubusson in 1481-89, it was used as the Main Hospital of the Cavaliers of St. John. It is build around a pebble courtyard, following the principles of the Medieval Hospice Architecture. Exactly opposite to the arched entrance stands a big stone pedestal with a sited lion that holds with his forelegs the head of Taurus.

The courtyard is surrounded by a double portico following a typical Gothic architecture. The ward for the sick was located in the upper floor, while warehouses and stables were at the ground level. The Hospital was extensively restored during the Italian occupation in 1913-18 and it has been used as a museum since then.

The exhibition in the first floor contains altars, sarcophaguses and other objects recovered from Ialysos, statues and steles from Kameiros and the neighbouring islands. The famous grave stele of Kalliarista, the statue of Venus, a bathing Aphrodite, the “Drunken Dionysus” and a headless statue of Artemis are just some of its exhibits. On the ground floor there are displays of ordnance from the Ottomans and Knights periods, as well as other finds.

Open: Tuesday to Sunday – 08:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Address: Platia Mousiou, Rhodes 85100, Greece, GR
Tel: +30 22410 27657