Rhodes Castle of Asklipio

Location: Asklipio

The Castle of Asklipio stands on a 200-meter-high hill, within a short distance from Asklipio village. Built for the protection of the locals from enemy attacks, it commanded a strategic location with unimpeded views of the coastline and the inland roads.

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Little is known about its history, with most historical records referring to it vaguely as the “four-towered castle.” A bas-relief above the main entrance indicates that it underwent extensive rebuilding in 1473 when the Knights of Saint John ruled the island of Rhodes, but it is quite possible that there was a pre-existing Byzantine castle on the location. Several construction phases can be discerned in the masonry, and it is remarkable that the merlons are unlike those of any other castle in Rhodes. Another singular feature is that the interior of the castle is characterized by a large difference in height between the entrance and the upper courtyard.

It is enclosed by an irregular enceinte with partly rounded corners. On many sides, the steep cliff provided natural protection, while the northern side is surrounded by a dry moat. On the northwestern corner rises a small, square tower, which was probably the first one to be built and must have served as a lookout. Though two of the other towers have not survived to this day, there is an imposing round tower-like structure on the southeastern corner, which was also provided with a defensive platform. Over the course of the 15th century, the Knights made use of the rest of the space too, adding new several buildings.

In the early 20th century, when the island was under Italian occupation, some parts of the castle were freely reconstructed by the Italians, so that its medieval features were somewhat altered.

Today, one can still see parts of the walls with the two extant towers, as well as the ruins of unidentified buildings in the inner courtyard.