Eleftherias (Liberty) Gate, Rhodes

Sitting directly in front of Symi Square, Liberty Gate marks one of the main entrances into the Medieval Town of Rhodes. The original gate on this site dates to the time of Grand Master Juan Fernández de Heredia and linked the northern stretch of the seafront walls with Mandraki Harbor. In medieval sources, it was commonly associated with the nearby shipyards and arsenal of the Knights Hospitaller and was often referred to as the Shipyard Gate or the Shipyard Vaults.

Two square towers once flanked the gate on either side. One of them is believed to be depicted on the coat of arms of Grand Master Pierre d’Aubusson. The gate itself shows clear Byzantine architectural influence, and its generous dimensions indicate its intended function: allowing the passage of large ship components or heavy equipment between the harbor and the nearby shipyards.

During the Ottoman period, the gate appears to have retained a functional role connected to the adjacent waterfront. Some sources suggest that it may have incorporated a bridge-like structure spanning water linked to a small enclosed basin known in Turkish as Eğri Liman, meaning “Concealed Harbor”, though the exact configuration remains a matter of scholarly interpretation.

The ramparts visible above the gate today date from the period of Italian rule. After taking control of Rhodes during the Italo-Turkish War, the Italians undertook extensive restoration and reconstruction of the medieval fortifications. In 1924, they created the present Liberty Gate, presenting themselves as liberators from Ottoman rule and deliberately choosing a name charged with political symbolism.