St. Nicholas Fortress, Rhodes, Greece

The Mandraki was the military harbour and was guarded by a tower built between 1464 and 1467 by the Grand Master Zacosta at the end of the natural mole. After the siege of Rhodes in 1480 the Grand Master d'Aubusson added a bastion around the tower transforming it into a guard fortress on the sea.

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.

Castles and fortifications in Greece

User Reviews

Monika Karlińska (11 months ago)
A fortress built in the 15th century to protect the entrance to the port. There is now a lighthouse there. Fort is close but you have beautiful view from here.

Maya M (12 months ago)
Beautiful building. Easy to get to. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public.

Tor Arve Røssland (12 months ago)
Not open to enter in May, when we were there. But it still looks great from the outside. Beware of attacking street vendors who can be very pushy, specially the hair-braiders who demand that you pay for good advice, and a hand-bracelet that she forces on you first.

Jorge Bernardo (17 months ago)
A very well protected harbour. It couldn't be otherwise given the history and the strategic location of the island. I don't know if it is opened to the public, I've just passed by it when entering and leaving port.

Krzysiek Olecha (2 years ago)
Looking very impressive on the outside, however it's not possible to get inside of those fortress walls. But still very interesting spot to stop by while taking a walk along the harbor side of the Rhodes.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright csakkarin

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St. Nicholas Fortress

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