Ialysos: Where antiquity meets the Middle Ages

His brothers, Lindos and Kamiros, lent their names to the other two city-states, although Ialysos was the oldest of the three, first inhabited around 1700 BC. It did, however, go into decline when the newly founded city of Rhodes became the island’s economic and cultural center after the 4th century BC. Another fact worth noting is that it was the homeland of Diagoras, the famous Rhodian Olympic champion.

Nowadays, visitors can explore ruins from various periods on Filerimos Hill, where the acropolis of the ancient city is located, including the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, surrounded by medieval building remnants. 

Most prominent among them is the Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Monastery of Filerimos), which housed the Knights Hospitaller during the Frankish rule. The medieval church was later incorporated into a Catholic monastery of Franciscan monks and has now been converted into an Orthodox temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. As for the modern appearance of the archaeological site, it is largely due to the extensive landscaping and restoration works carried out by the Italians.

To the right of the archaeological site lies the “Way of Golgotha”, a path leading to a large stone cross, 16 meters in height. The location offers panoramic views of the northwestern side of the island of Rhodes.