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Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Αιγαίου

View of St. Nicholas Fortress (Mandraki Harbor)

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Places to see

Castles

Greece

Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Αιγαίου

View of St. Nicholas Fortress (Mandraki Harbor)

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View of St. Nicholas Fortress (Mandraki Harbor)

Recommended by 45 hikers out of 48

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Location: Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Αιγαίου, Greece

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Best Hikes to View of St. Nicholas Fortress (Mandraki Harbor)

4.8

(150)

827

hikers

1. Rhodes Old Town – Mandraki Harbor, Rhodes loop from Neochori

9.69km

02:33

80m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(58)

327

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2. St. Paul's Gate (Rhodes) – Rhodes Old Town loop from Agios Nikolaos

13.5km

03:31

100m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(69)

340

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3. Rhodes Old Town – Saint Peter's Tower (Rhodes) loop from Kritika

19.3km

05:01

120m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

Sasha Taylor

May 14, 2022

A stand-alone fort at the end of the jetty of the Mandraki port of Rhodes.

It was built between 1460 and 1467 by the Grand Master of the Order of St. John Zacosta.

It suffered severe damages in the siege of 1480 (by the Turks) and by the earthquake of 1481. It was reoaired by Grand Master D’ Aubusson.

The castle was built at the place of an old Byzantine church dedicated to St. Nicholas, hence the name.

Since the 17th century, a lighthouse was added at the top.

The imposing St. Nicholas Fortress is located in the Rhodes Old City looking out over Mandraki Harbor. In ancient times Mandraki Harbor was a military space and in the 15th century a guard tower was constructed there on the orders of Grand Master Raimondo Zacosta.

Following the first siege, the tower was fortified. A bastion was added by Grand Master d’Aubusson and the newly formed fortress was named after the chapel inside it. It was largely thanks to the fortress that the Knights Hospitaller were able to fend off attacks from the Turks for so many years. Major sieges by the Turks were mounted in 1480 and 1522-23. The initial attack was thwarted, but the Turks ended up seizing Rhodes in 1522 and the Knights were forced to leave the city.

When the fortress was built, it took into account the Ottoman's use of cannons and other siege weaponry and its thick walls were impermeable for many years. Indeed considering their age, they are in excellent condition to this day. The fortress is hugely popular with visitors these days and it has been well preserved. You can walk along the path of the former moat, which has been dried out and provides a scenic, tree lined walking path.

Supermanu

November 27, 2022

Great fortress at Mandraki harbor

Translated by Google •

BarneySchmid

October 12, 2024

To protect the port

Translated by Google •

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Elevation -10 m

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Friday 24 October

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21°C

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Αιγαίου, Greece

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View of St. Nicholas Fortress (Mandraki Harbor)

1. Rhodes Old Town – Mandraki Harbor, Rhodes loop from Neochori

2. St. Paul's Gate (Rhodes) – Rhodes Old Town loop from Agios Nikolaos

3. Rhodes Old Town – Saint Peter's Tower (Rhodes) loop from Kritika

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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