Lindos was first inhabited around 3000BC. Because it had two natural harbours it was a dominant naval power in ancient times. In the 6th century BC, under the rule of Kleoboulos the village prospered and thrived on its foreign colonies.
The village’s architecture reflects its heritage and mixes Arabic, Byzantine, medieval and Turkish influences. Lindos the village is now a National Historic Landmark and development is very strictly monitored and controlled.
Acro is Greek for high and polis means city so literally acropolis means “high city”. The acropolis of Lindos is perched on a sheer precipice around 125m above the village and incorporates a 4th century BC Temple of Lindian Athena. This temple was among the most sacred sites in the ancient world and was allegedly visited by Alexander the Great, Helen of Troy and Herakles. In the 13th century the Knights of St John fortified the ancient city making it into a massive fortress, remains of which can be visited today.
The unique Lindian houses, the entrances to which are hidden behind wooden doors and were mainly built by rich sea merchants and captains between the 15th and 18th centuries. These traditional houses have distinctive carvings on their characteristic stonework. Folklore has it that the number of cable or rope motifs around the entrance doorway reflects the number of ships the owner possessed. The older houses incorporate Byzantine and Arabic styles and some have small captain’s rooms built over the doorway. Many of the archontika have been converted into apartments and restaurants but a few remain in their original format.
The captains’ houses in Lindos are characteristically arranged around a central courtyard and all rooms open off this courtyard, which is typically paved with choklakia; pebble mosaics which depict all sorts of natural and geometric designs.
These decorative mosaics are characteristic of the Dodecanese and have been used from Byzantine times. They were made of small pebbles, usually black and white but sometimes also red. Early designs were mainly geometric but later the patterns and symbols reflected the lives of the householders, including ships, fish and trees. The mosaics are an art form as well as a functional floor covering – when kept wet, they also helped cool the houses without creating a slippery surface.
This is the main beach of Lindos – literally the large bay – an where the Lindian fleet was one anchored; it sweeps around Lindos bay north of the village. This is a really popular beach which can get quite busy in the summer but it is safe for children, being shallow for quite a way. Watersports are available and there is a selection of cafes and restaurants along the beachfront.
This is where the Apostle landed in AD43, bringing Christianity to Rhodes. The bay is idyllic, almost completely enclosed and its dramatic backdrop is formed by the acropolis of Lindos. There is a tiny white chapel dedicated to the apostles St Paul and St Peter and a religious festival (the saints’ name day) takes place here on 28th and 29th June. The beach is popular with locals and tourists alike and a great spot for snorkelling.
The main living room in the traditional Lindian houses was called the sala and typically featured a banka, a raised wooden platform (accessed by steps or stairs) with mattresses which functions as a bedroom. The space is typically separated by a vaulted arch and some feature decorated wooden ceilings.
