Fort of St. Nicholas, Rhodes (must see)

The Fort of Saint Nicholas stands at the end of the Mandráki breakwater, guarding the entrance to the harbor and marking one of the most strategically important points in Rhodes’ medieval defenses. In the early 15th century, the site was initially occupied by a guard tower built by the Knights Hospitaller to control access to the port. Following the Ottoman siege of 1480, the tower was substantially reinforced and expanded into a fortified structure designed to withstand artillery attack. The completed fort took its name from a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas located within its walls.

The fort played a significant defensive role during the sieges of 1480 and 1522. In 1480, the strengthened harbor defenses helped repel the Ottoman assault, allowing the Knights to retain control of Rhodes. During the second siege in 1522, however, the Ottomans eventually forced the Knights’ surrender, leading to their departure from the island in early 1523.

The fortification was designed specifically to counter the increasing use of cannon warfare, with thick masonry walls and a compact layout that reduced exposure to direct fire. Much of this structure remains intact, contributing to the fort’s strong visual presence at the harbor entrance. In later periods, the fort continued to serve military purposes and was adapted during World War II, after which a lighthouse was installed to guide vessels entering Mandráki Harbor.

Today, the Fort of Saint Nicholas is primarily appreciated from the outside. Visitors can walk along the breakwater leading to the fort, which follows the line of earlier defensive works and offers views back toward Mandráki Harbor, the medieval walls, and the windmills. This route provides a clear sense of the fort’s role within the wider harbor defense system and its enduring place in the maritime landscape of Rhodes.