Located in the heart of the new section of Rhodes Town, within a few hundred meters from the Casino and Elli Beach, Our Lady of Victory is an engaging neo-Gothic Catholic church worth visiting for its distinctive elegant architecture.
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Also known by its Italian and Greek names (Santa Maria della Vittoria and Panagia tis Nikis), it was originally constructed by the Knights of St. John at the northeastern edge of the city walls, near the Gate of St. Catherine. However, after the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1522, the Franciscans who managed it were forced to leave and the church was destroyed. It wasn’t until 1719 that they were allowed to return to the island and the church was rebuilt at its current location.
After suffering severe damage in 1926 as a result of a tremendous earthquake, it underwent extensive restoration work that included the construction of a new facade. It was then that it incorporated elements like the Maltese Cross, which reflect its medieval heritage. The interior consists of a single nave with a transept and is divided by three cross vaults. Rhodian marble was also added to the main altar, enhancing its grandeur, while other changes, like the replacement of the two lateral altars with chapels, were meant to add a tone of austerity.
The courtyard is paved with beautiful mosaics, and on the right side stands a Franciscan monastery of the Custody of the Holy Land.
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