Rhodes Saint Francis of Assisi Church

Location: Town

The long occupation of Rhodes by the Knights of St. John in the Middle Ages and the Italians from 1912 to 1943 has left a strong mark on the culture of the island. This is reflected not only in the architecture but also in the many Catholic churches that can be found in Rhodes. Very few of them are still in operation today, with the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi being the official Latin rite parish church of Rhodes.

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The church is situated in the homonymous square, right outside the Athanasius Gate and the walls that enclose the Old Town. Its construction began in 1936 and was completed in 1939, under the supervision of the Italian architect Stefano Pellini. The facade is adorned by three arches, each one corresponding to a different door. It is a basilica made up of three naves with flat ceilings, a transept with two chapels and a semi-elliptic choir. The lateral naves are separated from the central one by pillars, while each of the chapels has six long-arched windows.

It has a unique architecture that combines a variety of materials, including white and grey marble, onyx and blocks of stone. The walls of the choir are covered with frescoes that represent the three most significant events in the life of Saint Francis, while the panels on the lateral altars are also decorated with beautiful murals. What is more, a local craftsman has created an iron statue of Saint Francis, which now stands on the right side of the church.

The church has very nice acoustics and boasts a magnificent organ embellished with terracotta bas-reliefs. Thus, it organizes an international organ music festival on an annual basis, bringing together talented musicians from several European countries.