In Rhodes every corner of the town, every stone on the island hides a small part of its 2400-year history. The meeting point of three continents, Rhodes has known many civilizations that have left their imprint on the island, from the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, followed by The Order of the Knights of St. John, the Ottomans, and the Italians.
Rhodes is myth, history, heritage, a mosaic of cultures and images from yesterday and today that look to tomorrow. A meeting place of scholars, artists and personalities from all over the world. We invite you to see, feel and live the unique cultural identity of Rhodes.
A few of the most important exhibits in the Museum are
Grave stele of Krito and Timarista
Marble head of Helios
The museum of modern Greek art
The Museum of Modern Greek Art presents extensive painting and engraving collections as well as numerous sculptures, drawings and documents of historical value. The works of engraving and painting form a comprehensive collection of Greek art of the 20th century created by Greece’s most eminent artists. Some of these works of art are considered to be of great significance and have been selected in order to illustrate the development of modern Greek art. The central idea of all these collections is to present the history of Greece through the eyes and the soul of Greek artists of the 20th century. The Museum of Modern Greek Art reflects the uniqueness and simultaneously the international character of Greece.
Art gallery
This historical building, located near the entrance of the Medieval Town in Symi Square, houses the collection ofengravings and a portion of the permanent collection of sculpture. 2 Symi Square tel: +30 22410-23766
Modern art center / Palaio sissitio
In 2000 the museum acquired the use of the “Palaio Syssitio” (Old Almshouse) building as an exhibition hall. It is situated in Socrates Street, the main thoroughfare in the Medieval Town. From time to time, the Modern Art Center organizes exhibitions of works of art created by contemporary artists.
New art gallery / Nestoridion
The Nestoridion New Art Gallery is located in the picturesque Hundred Palms Square near the historic Grande Albergo delle Rose. The multi-storey building was Donated by Ioannis and Paola Nestoridis, and it hosts the permanent collection of paintings. It has a small open-air amphitheatre and a lecture hall. Educational programs, lectures and other events related to art are held there. Recently a new wing, of impressive modern architecture, has been addedand along with the main Nestoridion Art Gallery creates a major cultural reference point in the center of the city, aiming to revitalize and enhance the cutural life of Rhodes, hosting quality artistic events, exhibitions and meetings.
Archeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes is housed in the medieval building which served as the Hospital of the Knights of St. John. The structure was begun in 1440 by Grand Master de Lastic with money bequeathed by his predecessor, Fluvian, and was completed in 1489 by Grand Master d’Aubusson. The museum is a two-storey building, with a central courtyard, all four sides of which are lined with porticoes
Interesting finds dating from all periods of the island’s history, discovered during archaeological excavations, are exhibited in the Garden and in the twenty rooms of the upper floor.
In the garden the visitor can see sculptures and funerary steles of the Hellenistic period and the mosaic floors of the Hellenistic period from Rhodes town and in the atrium the mosaic floor of the early Christian period from Karpathos.
Various statues and fragments of funerary monuments are also on exhibit in the Museum atrium. The Museum houses the following collections:
- Tomb groups from ancient Ialysos of the Geometric and Classical periods: vases, figurines, jewellery, metal objects.
- Tomb groups from ancient Kamiros of the Geometric and Classical periods: vases, small objects, figurines.
- A collection of Classical, Hellenistic and Roman sculpture.
- Funerary slabs from the period of the Knights with relief representations of the deceased or of their coats of arms.
