Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Palace of the Grand Master
Παλάτι του Μεγάλου Μαγίστρου

Part of the fortifications of Rhodes
Rhodes, Greece
View of the castle
Coordinates	36°26′44.5″N 28°13′26.8″E / 36.445694°N 28.224111°E / 36.445694; 28.224111
Type	Castle
Site information
Owner	Government of Greece
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Intact
Site history
Built	7th century (citadel) 14th century (palace) 1937–1940 (restoration works)
Built by	Byzantine Empire Knights Hospitaller Kingdom of Italy (restoration works)
Battles/wars	Siege of Rhodes (1480) Siege of Rhodes (1522)
Events	1481 Rhodes earthquake
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv, v
Designated	1988 (12th session)
Part of	Medieval old town of Rhodes
Reference no.	493
Region	Europe and North America

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is an amazing medieval castle. It is located in the city of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes in Greece. People also call it the Kastello, which means "castle" in Italian. This palace is special because it's one of the few buildings in Greece that shows off the beautiful Gothic architecture style. For a long time, it was a home, a main office, and a strong fort for the Knights Hospitaller.

History of the Grand Master's Palace
Images for kids
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History of the Grand Master's Palace

From Ancient Times to Byzantine Fortress

Some studies suggest that this palace stands on a very old and important spot. They believe it might have been where an ancient temple to the sun god Helios once stood. It's even thought that the famous Colossus of Rhodes, a giant statue from ancient times, might have been located here.

The very first building on this site was a Byzantine citadel. This strong fort was built in the late 600s.

The Knights Hospitaller Arrive

In 1309, a group called the Knights Hospitaller took control of Rhodes. They were a military and religious order. They also took over other Greek islands like Kalymnos and Kastellorizo. The Knights decided to make the old Byzantine fort their main center. It became the palace for their leader, known as the Grand Master.

In the early 1300s, the Knights fixed up the palace. They made many big changes to it. The palace was damaged by a strong earthquake in 1481. But the Knights quickly repaired it.

Under Ottoman Rule

In 1522, the Ottoman Empire captured the island of Rhodes. After this, the palace was still used as an important building. It served as a command center and a strong fortress for the Ottomans.

Italian Restoration and Famous Visitors

Later, the island of Rhodes was controlled by Italy. Between 1937 and 1940, an Italian architect named Vittorio Mesturino worked to restore the damaged parts of the palace.

During this time, the palace became a holiday home. It was used by the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III. Later, it was also used by the Italian leader Benito Mussolini. You can still see his name on a large sign near the entrance of the palace.

Return to Greece and Modern Use

After World War II, a special agreement was made. This was the Treaty of Peace with Italy in 1947. It said that the Italian Republic would give the Dodecanese Islands, including Rhodes, to Greece. In 1948, Rhodes officially became part of Greece.

The palace was then turned into a museum. Today, millions of tourists visit Rhodes every year, and many of them come to explore this historic palace.

In 1988, Greece was in charge of the European Economic Community. This was an important group of European countries, now known as the European Union. The Greek Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou, and other leaders from the EEC held a meeting right here in the Palace.