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Greece

Winter In Greece: The Storied History of Rhodes

Program No. 23562RJ
Experience the Greek island of Rhodes during the quieter winter months and explore its ancient and medieval history, traditional art and local cuisine.
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  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
  • Winter in Rhodes
Small Group
Length
9 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,799
Flights start at
1,050
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
14 meals ( 7B, 3L, 4D )
1 expert-led lecture
8 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
2 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. The Group Leader will be at the reception hall to assist you with safekeeping your luggage. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. We’ll gather for a welcome drink in the hotel meeting room. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our experienced and knowledgeable Group Leader will also serve as our Study Leader, presenting lectures and conducting field trips. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We will then set out for dinner at the rooftop restaurant of the hotel, offering amazing views of the Acropolis of Athens.
Dinner:
In the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and our flight to Rhodes in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 20 miles, up to 1 hour riding time. Getting on/off an airplane; flight from Athens to Rhodes is approximately 1 hour. Some walking at the airport, may need to go up and down detachable steps. Walking about 2 miles; variable terrain including cobblestone streets, some uphill sections, many well-worn steps.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and enjoy a scenic drive through the city of Athens. Our Group Leader will provide commentary, pointing out the iconic landmarks of the city as well as providing some historical and cultural context. Some of the sites we will see during this drive are the famous Acropolis, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Zeus, Constitution Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Garden, the Presidential Mansion, and the Olympic Stadium. After our panoramic drive, we will make our way to the Athens International Airport for our flight to Rhodes.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Upon arrival in Rhodes, we’ll collect our luggage and board our motorcoach. We’ll enjoy a panoramic drive of the city of Rhodes and head to the hotel for check-in. After some downtime, we’ll gather with our Group Leader for a lecture on the history of Rhodes then set out on a beautiful walking field trip to explore areas of the city dating from the early 20th century, known for their captivating architectural style. We’ll then return to the hotel.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 3.5 miles throughout the day; variable terrain including cobblestone streets, some uphill sections, many well-worn steps, slippery surfaces; standing approximately 1.5 hours.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will set out with our Group Leader on a magnificent history walk to medieval Rhodes, one of the most important European medieval cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will walk to the gate D’Amboise and reach the well-known Collachium, the part of the medieval city monopolized by the Knights of the Order of St. John and their activities. From the UNESCO inscription: “The Order of St John of Jerusalem occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and set about transforming the city into a stronghold. It subsequently came under Turkish and Italian rule. With the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital and the Street of the Knights, the Upper Town is one of the most beautiful urban ensembles of the Gothic period.” Walking in the footsteps of the Knights of Saint John — the Hospitallers — we will explore the citadel that housed the Palace of the Grand Master, one of the greatest monuments erected in the Middle Ages. This was the order’s administrative center, the residence of their leader, and their seat of power. Contemporary archaeologists have suggested that this was the site of the Colossus of Rhodes in antiquity. As we walk along the Street of the Knights, we will see where seven imposing inns were constructed in the early 16th century, representing the different “tongues” (countries) from which knights of the order originated. We will end the morning at what was the old Hospital of the Knights, a unique Gothic masterpiece constructed from 1440-1489, that now serves as the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our exploration with La Juderia, the Jewish quarter of Rhodes, which has a history of more than 500 years. Many of those who came here were fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Among the most significant landmarks are the Kahal Shalom synagogue and the Rhodes Jewish Museum which we will visit with museum staff. It is a place where time seems to have stopped in the medieval era. We’ll then return to the hotel, walking along the medieval walls of the city.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 60 miles, up to 2 hours riding time. Walking about 3 miles; variable terrain including slippery cobblestone streets, walking uphill in Lindos, many well-worn steps.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and drive along the magnificent west coast of the island to the renowned village of Lindos. As we ride, we will see stunning coastal landscapes and we’ll learn from the Group Leader all about the local mythology. Arriving in Lindos, we’ll visit the ancient Acropolis perched majestically above the charming, whitewashed little town and unfold the history of this impressive fortress that played a crucial role in maritime defense and control of vital sea routes. We will walk through the labyrinth of little alleyways that were deliberately designed to confuse marauding pirates. As we go, we will see medieval residences with emblems on their heavy stone gates, and we’ll visit the Church of Panagia that originated in 1300. It is surrounded by high walls and features an impressive stone campanile tower typical of Rhodian churches. Inside, we will see a superbly executed pebble mosaic as well as exceptional 19th-century wall frescoes depicting biblical scenes. We will then ascend the same ancient steep path traveled by Rhodians to reach the breathtaking Acropolis, enjoying some dramatic coastal views. Walking back, we will reboard our motorcoach and ride to the village of Archangelos, where we’ll have the opportunity to visit the recently opened folklore museum that is housed in a traditional house built in the 1860s. It is a private nonprofit initiative of a local family, and its income is intended for the acquisition of new exhibits.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
By motorcoach, we’ll drive to one of the oldest and most picturesque villages of the island, the village of Koskinou. We’ll enjoy a little stroll through the village and then we’ll return to our hotel.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 20 miles, under 1 hour riding time each way. Walking up to 2 hours on variable terrain including cobblestone streets, some uphill sections and many well-worn steps.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach for exploring the natural beauty of the island’s windy west coast. First, we will ride to the ancient site of Kamiros, one of the three great ancient cities of Rhodes that reached its heyday in the 6th and 5th century BCE, thanks to its developed agricultural economy. The ruins of the city and neighboring necropolis were uncovered in 1859. We can now see the remains of its ancient grand buildings, the Agora, temples, private residences, and the Acropolis. Moving on, we will ride to Philerimos. A winding road leads to the top of a hill and the Monastery of Philerimos. This is also an important archaeological site where the ancient town of Ialyssos once stood, but when Christianity developed in Greece, it was turned into a Christian site of worship, as many ancient cult sanctuaries were. We’ll continue to a village in the Rhodian interior to experience the authentic feel of Rhodes.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant. We will then return to the hotel.
Afternoon:
After some time to rest, we will gather for a Road Scholar exclusive traditional Greek dancing lesson with dance instructors.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving up to 9.5 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles; variable terrain including cobblestone slippery streets, walking uphill, several well-worn steps.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’ll depart by motorcoach for an interesting half-day field trip to Kallithea. This complex was an architectural work of the Italian architect Pietro Lombardi and was built during the interwar period as a luxurious spa facility to attract noble tourists. The healing properties of the water have been known since antiquity. Today the site is mostly appreciated for its amazing pebble mosaics. Afterwards, we’ll return to the hotel with some time to relax.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
At the hotel, we’ll gather for an afternoon lecture by an expert about the traditional art of the Votsalota—pebble mosaics—followed by a class where a local pebble mosaic artist will show us his amazing art.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and our flight to Athens in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 20 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile at airport; variable terrain, some steps. Getting on/off an airplane; flight time approximately 1 hour. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After check-out, we’ll take the motorcoach to Rhodes airport for our flight to Athens. Upon arrival to Athens airport, we’ll collect our luggage and our motorcoach will transfer us to the hotel for check-in.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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