The Gates of Old Town: 11 Ways to Enter, 11 stories to discover!
The gates of old town are a reminder of its turbulent history. The gates have been through many changes, some ancient and some modern. One thing that remains constant is the gates' purpose to serve as an entrance into the city for travelers. This article will explore the 11 gates of Old Town, their history and what you can see at each one today!
The gates of Old Town have been a staple for travelers into the city, but this was not always the case. In 1480, after the siege, Saint George Gate began to be closed as it became a military bastion. The gates were opened again in 1522 by Grand Master D'Aubusson and became an entrance into Rhodes. One of the gates is named after him and can be found on the northern side of the city.
Each gate has a story to tell, and Old Town gates are no different. There is the Gate of Saint Athanasios on the western side; its name comes from a church that was built nearby in honor of Saint Anthony's death. Then there is the Gate of Saint John on the eastern side which helped travelers enter through New Town at one point. The Gate of Saint Catherine, which stands on the southern side of Old Town, is one of many gates with a female saint's name attached to it; there are also gates dedicated to Our Lady and Mary Magdalene!
The gates of Old Town have no doubt been through many changes. Some gates, including the Gate of Saint George and D'Amboise gate were closed because they became military bastions. One thing that remains constant is their purpose as entrances into the city for travelers from all over Europe.
Marine Gate was closed in 1881 because travelers didn't find it useful anymore due to new roads being built. The gates have been left open since then and visitors can enter the gates of Old Town through Liberty Gate on the east side, Arnaldo Gate on the west side, or any one of eleven gates.
No matter what gate you choose to explore, take some time out to learn about its story! You will discover something new at every turn as gates have been through many changes.
The gates of Old Town are a constant reminder not only of its history but also the purpose they serve today. You can find many different things at each gate, from ancient ruins to modern art installations and more! We hope this article has been able to provide you with some insight into these 11 gates through time. Let us know if there's anything else specific that you would like for us to cover about them in future articles. Thank you so much for reading!
