Rhodes - The Road of The Knights

The entire length of the cobbled road is afacade are its large gothic door and the coat of
medieval accomplishment which serves as a boldarms of Carretto and Flotta.
monument for its outstanding purity. TheThe arch divided the central room into two
medieval road which runs along a straight axisunequal chambers of the grand Inn of the Tongue
follows an ancient road in the city of Rhodesof Spain. The Inn was begun by the Grand Master
which began in the harbour and ended at theFluvian (1421-1437) and completed by D'Amboise
acropolis. The ancient remains which were found(1503-1512) and is decorated with the coat of
suffice to establish the true age of the road. Thearms of these two Grand Masters. Certain
road today has a length of 200 m and a width ofarchitectural details create a strong impression of
6m. During the Middle Ages it most probablySpain. At the end of the road of the Knights, in
began in the harbour and ended at the highestthe square of Kleoboulos stands the loggia of St.
point of the lower city's castle where the palaceJohn, a building which was erected much later and
of the Grand Masters and the church of St. Johnbears no relationship with the Middle Ages. The
are today.loggia was built on the site of the church of St.
The medieval facades of the houses and theJohn, the patron saint of the Order. The church
emblems of the different tongues and orders arewas built in the 14th century and survived as a
of the purest gothic style which is seen only inmosque until 1856. In the basement of the church
medieval cities of the West. The entire area tosomeone had at one time stored a large amount
the left, where the road begins, is taken up byof gunpowder. In 1856 lightning struck the church's
the facade of the Hospital-Museum. Next to thisminaret and seconds later an explosion occurred.
buildings stand two buildings, one of which has aThe church was latterly blown away, the palace
very beautiful window. Next to these two buildingof the Grand Masters was destroyed, but the
along the right side of the road stands theworst was the death of 800 people.
Tongue of Italy. In the centre of the window onThis explosion and the destructive earthquake of
the first floor the coat of arms of the Grand1851 reduced the palace of the Grand Masters to
Master Carretto can be seen. The building is notrubble. This bright building of the 14th century was
the original building of 1519 but a restoration whichrestored to its present form by the orders of the
was carried out by the Italians in 1915. Next to aItalian director De Vechhi during the decade of
small and anonymous building, decorated with the1930-1940. A structure imposing both in its
coat of arms of the Grand Masters Amboise anddimensions, which are 75m x 80 m, and the
Adam and the dates 1510 and 1521 stands thestrength of its fortifications, it resembles a bastion
dignified sertains of what was originally theon the southwestern corner of the castle. The
Tongue of France. The heraldic arms of Francelower section of its external walls, the entrance
are set into the facade (lillies and the crown)which faces the square of St. John and a few
together with the coat of arms and the relief ofsections of the northeastern side are all that
D'Ambusson. The relief depicts a cardinal's hat andremain of the original medieval structure. The
the date 1495. As well there is the coat of armsentire building, apart from its exterior appearance,
of Amboise and the year 1492 which was theis the work of unbridled imagination of the Italian
year the Inn was completed.architects and decorators of pre world war I.
The decorative features are all gothic and theA grand entrance flanked by two towers
upper section and roof resembled the finishings ofcomplete with embrasures leads into the marble
a crenellated castle while the water sprouts arelaid courtyard with its stoa and the statues of the
rendered in the form of crocodile heads. TheRoman Emperors brought over from the island of
figures were intended to serve as a reminder toKos. The entrances of the underground
the knights of the Grand Master Gozon who killedstorerooms can be discerned. A staircase which
a crocodile found in the surrounding area of theleads to the upper floor begins at the entrance
city. This act has now become one of the manyhall. The rooms in the upper floor are decorated
Rhodian legends. The small palace which standswith ancient columns and capitals, ancient, Early
directly opposite was built in the Spanish style. AChristian and Byzantine mosaics which were
small road whose length is covered by archesbrought here from all the islands of the
leads to the small gothic church of St. Demetrius.Dodecanese. The furniture of the room is 14th,
The church was built in 1499 by the Order's15th and 16th centuries. The function, use and
Admiral Piossasko. An ancient inscription found indecoration of the 90 rooms bear no resemblance
the church's floor has given rise to the speculationto medieval plan, function, use or decoration.
that this church may have been built on the siteThese rooms were randomly created by the pre
of an ancient temple dedicated to Dionysus. Backwar Italians. A semi circular arch is found in the
on the Road of the Knights to the left stands asouthwestern corner of the palace which is the
gothic church with an arched door and a cornicedcanon gate together with the castle's embrasures
niche which holds a statue of the Virgin. It isand the tomb and coat of arms of the Grand
decorated with the arms and shields of France,Master De Lastic. The surviving section of the wall
England, the Pope and the Grand Masters. Theonce separated the Kastello from the city during
church was most likely built in 1365. After 1522 itthe period of the Knights. A little below and
was converted into a mosque.traversing the wall is the gate of St. Anthony,
Next to this church stands a building with a verywhich was present before the walls were erected
simple facade. Perhaps the residence of anand the gate of D'Amroise was built. The gate of
ecclesiastic. An arch which has one room above itSt. Anthony and the gate of the embrasure of
and then the Inn of the Tongue of Provence.the Elion were the only gates which gave direct
After the destruction of 1855 the Inn lost part ofentrance to and exit from the city.
its original height. Decorative features of the