Marine Gate, Rhodes

Just south of Kolóna’s fishing port, the Marine Gate forms one of the most fabulous maritime entrances into the walled town of Rhodes, flanked by two large round towers. Historically, this was the point of arrival for visitors coming by sea, designed to create a strong and ceremonial first impression. The gate was completed in 1478 during the rule of the Knights Hospitaller and deliberately modeled on the Gate of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon in France, a structure built roughly two centuries earlier.

Built directly beside the water, the gate occupied a narrow strip between the sea and the city walls, a location that made it extremely difficult for attackers to assemble or mount a coordinated assault from this direction. The flanking towers were equipped with defensive mechanisms designed to drop projectiles or heated substances onto assailants approaching the entrance. It underwent restoration in 1951, following repairs to the north tower.

The exterior is decorated with a series of sculpted reliefs, including an image of the Virgin holding Christ, alongside figures of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Peter. Also visible are several coats of arms: those of France, the Order of Saint John, and the House of d’Aubusson, whose grand master oversaw the gate’s construction. On the interior side, further relief work includes an effigy of an angel accompanied by the heraldic emblems of the Order of Saint John.