Map Dodecanese

Strung along the coast of western Turkey, the Dodecanese islands is much closer to Asia Minor than to mainland Greece.

Because of their strategic and vulnerable position, these islands have been subjected to an even greater catalogue of invasions and occupations than the rest of Greece – Egyptians, the Knights of St John, Turks and Italians have all done their bit as conquerors.

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and its town is the largest inhabited medieval settlement in Europe.

The Avenue of the Knights is lined with magnificent medieval buildings, the most impressive of which is the Palace of the Grand Masters, restored, but never used, as a holiday home for Mussolini.