Rhodes in the 20th Century: Fascinating Historical Photos Offering a Glimpse into the Life of Rhodes

Rhodes is the central city and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese, Greece. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes, is located here. In 1988, UNESCO designated Rhodes, the citadel built by the Hospitaliers, as a World Heritage Site. Rhodes is a popular destination for international tourists and is an essential Greek urban center.

Rhodes lies at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Over time, this has led the city and island to develop many different identities, cultures, architectural styles, and dialects. Rhodes has a rich history due to its position on major sea routes. New buildings were made during the Ottoman period: mosques, public baths, and mansions for wealthy patrons. The city served primarily as a market for crops produced in the island’s interior and on nearby small islands. Italy took over the island with the rest of the Dodecanese Islands in 1912, and the territory became known as the Italian Islands of the Aegean in 1923.

The Ministry of Culture designated the entire medieval town as a protected monument in 1960, following the approval of a new city plan in 1957. New decrees regarding the new city plan were issued in 1961 and 1963. New streets were opened, and existing ones were widened. Due to the resistance of the Archaeological Service, these were never implemented in the old city. UNESCO designated Rhodes’ old town a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Below are some fascinating historical photos that show what Rhodes looked like in the 1900s.

#1 Hostel of the Spaniards in Rhodes, 1900s.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#2 The Marine Gate in Rhodes, 1900s.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#3 Man riding a donkey in the streets of Rhodes, 1910s.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#4 Interior of fort, Rhodes, 1906.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#5 Castle walls and turrets, Rhodes, 1906.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#6 Loading to palaky, Rhodes, 1912.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Porch of an hotel in Rhodes, 1920.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 Two women sitting in the balcony of hotel in Rhodes, 1920.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 A hotel in Rhodes, 1920.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 A tea time in the hotel of Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 Beautiful hotel in Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Inside of a turkish bath in Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 A group of female farmers in Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 Woman in typical clothing in Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Two women with a horse in Rhodes, 1920s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Elefthérios Venizelos on the deck of the cruiser ‘Averoff’ in Rhodes, Greece, 1930.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 A pony breeder in Rhodes, 1935.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 The governor during the award ceremony for the winner of the competition in Rhodes, 1935.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Balilla on horseback in Rhodes, 1935.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 A café, Rhodes, 1936.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 The harbour, Rhodes, 1937.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 A mosque in Rhodes, 1937.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Street of Knights, Rhodes, 1937.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 German troops in Rhodes during WWII, 1943.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 Major General Wagner, Commander of the German troops, Surrender of the German occupation forces of the Island of Rhodes to the Allies, 1945.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Men sitting in Rhodes, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Girl from the village of Lindos in Rhodes with a jug, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 The steeple of the Panagia Church on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 View of the sea from the island of Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Remains of the ancient temple complex of Ialyssos on Rhodes, Greece 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Three young girls talk outside a house on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 A woman in front of the front door to her house in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 A man and two tourists in an alley of Lindos on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 A woman in the hallway of her home in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 Ascent to the castle complex in the town of Lindos on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 An old woman in the front door to her home in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 An elderly woman carries a jug down an alley in Rhodes, Greece 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Bell in the steeple of Panagia Church on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 The Acropolis above Lindos on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 A woman on her donkey, Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 Mother and son out and about with their donkey in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 A woman on a roof terrace in the town of Lindos looking towards the Panagia Church on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 A woman on her donkey in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 The steeple of the Panagia Church on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 Bell in the steeple of Panagia Church on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Portrait of a woman with her donkey, Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 A young man paints the temple ruins of Ialyssos on Rhodes in Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 An old woman ties flowers in Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49 People in a small alley on Rhodes, Greece 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 Three boys from the island of Rhodes laugh at the photographer, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 Children run to play to a fountain in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 Children run from the harbor through the city walls of Rhodes to play, Greece, 1950s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 A passer-by speaks probably on Palm Sunday with a clergyman in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 A tourist from Germany strokes a donkey on the island of Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 Two young women sit in front of the house on the street having a conversation in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#56 People in a small alley on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#57 View of the small town of Lindos with its Acropolis on Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#58 A man sits above the temple ruins of Ialyssos on Rhodes and looks out over the sea and the neighboring islands, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#59 Tourists photograph a mosaic inscription on the floor of the temple complex of Ialyssos in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#60 View of the harbor entrance and the windmills of Rhodes, 1970s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#61 Tourists try to brush up their knowledge of the Greek language at the temple ruins of Ialyssos in Rhodes, Greece, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#62 Ludwig Erhard riding a donkey in Rhodes 1962.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#63 The acropolis of Lindos. Lindos, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#64 Tourists visiting the acropolis of Lindos. Lindos, 1970s0

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#65 Vlicha Bay, on the east coast of Rhodes, not far from the ancient village of Lindos. Rhodes, 1970s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#66 Rooftops in the old city of Rhodes, 1967.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#67 Hippokrateous Square in the old city of Rhodes, 1967.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#68 Trawler in the port of Rhodes, Greece, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#69 Trawler in the port of Rhodes, in front of the Palace of the Grand Masters, Greece, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#70 Man with scooter on Rhodes Island with mountains in background, 1970s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#71 In Rhodes, young woman sitting on her bicycle, windmills in the background. She wears an old pink tank top, as well as blue shorts, July 1971.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#72 A young woman attends a game of jaquet played by locals at a terrace in the old town in Rhodes, 1971.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#73 Riitta Inkeri Väisänen, Finnish actress, elected Miss Europe in Rhodes on June 5, 1976.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#74 Anthony Valentine on the set of ‘Escape to Athena’ in Rhodes, Greece, 8th March 1978

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#75 Richard Roundtree, Roger Moore and Sonny Bono on the set of ‘Escape to Athena’ in Rhodes, Greece, 8th March 1978.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#76 The Acropolis of Lindos on the island of Rhodes, 1980.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#77 View of the town of Lindos, 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#78 Town square of Platia Ippokratous, on the island of Rhodes, in June 1988, Greece.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#79 A woman in Rhodes old city, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#80 Rhodes Harbour, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#81 Old City Rhodes, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#82 Old City Rhodes, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#83 A cloth stall Old City Rhodes, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#84 Castle Rhodes, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#85 Rhodes market, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#86 Rhodes harbour, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote