Lindos
The visitor's first sight of Lindos is a magical experience: white, cube-shaped houses, which surround the closed harbour and climb the slopes towards the acropolis. The second largest town on the island has a beauty and history all its own, thus every year visitors faithfully return there.
Lindos rich history is visible wherever you go: gazing at the sunset from the Acropolis, looking down over the town from the "Tomb of Kleovoulos", crossing the threshold of one of the magnificent sea captains' houses, listening to the local people's tales of the days when the Onassis yacht used to anchor in here.
The town is protected by conservation legislation and has retained its unique architectural features.
The Acropolis of Lindos
The Acropolis of Lindos, built on a steep rock 116 metres high, is a natural watchtower facing the open sea. The remains demonstrate well the long standing powers and wealth of Lindos. On the highest point of the acropolis, under the blue sky the remains include the temple of Athena Lindia, dating from the 4th century BC, the Propylaia and the large Hellenistic arcade, the Byzantine chapel of Agios Ioannis and the castle of the Knights of Saint John.
The walls of the acropolis were reinforced by the Knights during the 14th century, when they constructed the excavated staircase entrance. Carved in relief at the foot of the rock is a unique representation of a 2nd century BC trireme.
Did you know ?
The Victory of Samothrace was originally from Rhodes. The celebrated sculpture which now graces the Louvre in Paris was the work of an artist from Rhodes, probably Voithos from Lindos. It was a votive offering of the people of Rhodes to the sanctuary of the Kaveiri on Samothrace following the victory over Antiochus III in 190 BC.
