Description of the attraction
One of the favorite places for locals and guests of Rhodes is undoubtedly the Mandraki harbor, which for almost 2500 years was the main port of the island. On one side, the harbor is protected by a narrow pier (about 400 m long), where you will see three medieval windmills that have been perfectly preserved to this day.
Mills of Rhodes were built after the island fell under the control of the Knights Hospitallers, who made it the center of their Order. It was during the time of the Grand Masters that Rhodes was thoroughly fortified, massive fortress walls also grew around the administrative center of the island, where the main residence of the Masters, the Palace of the Grand Masters, was also erected. The city was reliably protected from both land and sea. The fortress wall also ran along the port pier, and one of the entrances to the fortress, known as the Mills' Gate, was also located here. The gate received this original name because of the 13 windmills located on the pier. It was here that the merchant ships arriving at the port of Rhodes once unloaded grain. Unfortunately, the fortress wall was destroyed long ago, but of the fourteen mills, three have been perfectly preserved to this day and today are one of the most famous and popular local attractions, as well as an important architectural and historical monument.
In one of the windmills is the office of the Hydrographic Service of the Greek Navy. Here you can also get acquainted with an entertaining exposition of various hydrographic and oceanographic instruments, as well as a photo archive and an impressive selection of historical nautical charts.
