Rhodes trivia: 55 amazing facts about this Greek island!

Rhodes is one of the most famous Greek islands and one that many tourists visit every year!

So let’s find out some trivia and facts about this Greek island!

1. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece
2. And is also the island group’s historical capital
3. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit
4. Which is part of the South Aegean administrative region
5. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Rhodes
6. The city of Rhodes had 50,636 inhabitants in 2011
7. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens
8. And just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey
9. Rhodes’ nickname is The island of the Knights
10. It is named after the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem
11. Who once conquered the land
12. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes
13. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
14. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site
15. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe
16. The name of the U.S. state of Rhode Island is thought to be based on this island
17. The island has been known as Ρόδος in Greek throughout its history
18. In addition, the island has been called Rodi in Italian, Rodos in Turkish, and Rodi or Rodes in Ladino
19. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville incorrectly reports that Rhodes was formerly called “Collosus”
20. Through a conflation of the Colossus of Rhodes and Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, which refers to Colossae
21. The island’s name might be derived from erod
22. Phoenician for snake
23. Since the island was infested with snakes in antiquity
24. The island of Rhodes is shaped like a spearhead, 79.7 km (49.5 mi) long and 38 km (24 mi) wide
25. With a total area of approximately 1,400 square kilometres (541 sq mi)
26. And a coastline of approximately 220 km (137 mi)
27. Limestone is the main bedrock
28. The city of Rhodes is located at the northern tip of the island
29. As well as the site of the ancient and modern commercial harbours
30. The main air gateway (Diagoras International Airport, IATA code: RHO) is located 14 km (9 mi) to the southwest of the city in Paradisi
31. The road network radiates from the city along the east and west coasts
32. Outside of the city of Rhodes, the island is dotted with small villages and spa resorts
33. Among them Faliraki, Lindos, Kremasti, Haraki, Pefkos, Archangelos, Afantou, Ixia, Koskinou, Embona (Attavyros), Paradisi, and Trianta (Ialysos)
34. There are mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes sea water) used to give medicinal baths
35. And the spa resorts offer various health treatments
36. Rhodes is situated 363 km (226 mi) east-south-east from the Greek mainland
37. And 18 km (11 mi) from the southern shore of Turkey
38. Rhodian tradition in food is rich
39. Koriantolino and Souma (colorless alcoholic beverage produced from grape distillation) are the main alcoholic drinks of Rhodes
40. Local foods include Pitaroudia, Milla and Tsiriggia, Pougia, Lakani, Katsikaki Kapamas, Loppia with Goat, Makarounia, Matsi and Koulouria (Hand Made Pasta), Tsouvras, Sivrasi, Giaprakia, Kefalopoda Lambris, Giachni, Ladopita, Tachinopita, Sinoro (traditional cheese)
41. Local pastry specialties are Melekouni, Fanouropita, Mouchalebi, Takakia, Escharitis, Amigdalota (white almond cookies), Moschopougia and Mantinades
42. Rhodes is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Greece
43. After Crete the island is the most visited destination in Greece
44. With arrivals standing at 1.785.305 in 2013
45. In 2014 they stood at 1.931.005
46. While in 2015 the arrival number reduced slightly and stood at 1.901.000
47. The average length of stay is estimated at 8 days
48. Guests from Great Britain, Israel, France, Italy, Sweden and Norway are the ones that constitute the biggest portion in terms of the arrivals by country
49. In Rhodes the supply of available rooms is high
50. Since more than 550 hotels are operating in the island
51. The majority of which are 2 star hotels
52. Additionally, in terms of competitiveness, the World Tourism Organization ranks Greece in the 31st position globally
53. The economy is tourist-oriented, and the most developed sector is service
54. Tourism has elevated Rhodes economically, compared to the rest of Greece
55. Small industries process imported raw materials for local retail, though other industry includes agricultural goods production, stockbreeding, fishery and winery