Mandraki Harbor and Windmills, Rhodes (must see)

Mandráki Harbor, historically the principal port of the ancient city of Rhodes, today serves primarily as a marina, with private sailboats moored along its long eastern quay. In the summer months, the southwestern quays are animated by excursion boats offering short cruises along the coast to Líndos and to nearby islands.

The harbor is protected by a breakwater jetty approximately 400 meters long, at the end of which stands the Fort of Saint Nicholas. Originally constructed by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century to defend the harbor entrance, the fort remained in military use into the modern era and saw action during World War II. It now incorporates a lighthouse, which continues to guide vessels entering the harbor from the north.

Although popular imagery often suggests otherwise, the ancient Colossus of Rhodes did not stand at Mandráki Harbor. This long-standing myth, frequently repeated on souvenirs and promotional material, has no archaeological support. Instead, the harbor entrance is marked by two modern columns, erected during the Italian period in the early 20th century, each topped with a bronze statue of a stag and a doe, which have become symbolic emblems of Rhodes.

Along the jetty leading toward the fort stand three restored medieval windmills, once used to grind grain unloaded from ships anchored in the harbor. Historical sources suggest that as many as a dozen windmills may originally have lined this structure. The surviving three have been carefully renovated and today form one of Mandráki’s most recognizable landmarks.