Forget what you think you know about the Greek island of Rhodes . Set aside, for a moment, the sandy beaches, hotel complexes with swimming pools, vibrant nightlife and array of restaurants . Instead, come with me on a wondrous trip to discover the secret of youth, possibly the best wine in the Aegean and other treasures.
Rhodes is steeped in folklore and history . Raised from the sea by Zeus as a gift for the sun god Helios it has been home to ancient Greek philosophers, claimed by the Byzantine Empire, occupied by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades, captured by the Ottomans and held by the Italians as recently as 1943.
Each visitor has left its mark on a complex island. Most recently, tourists. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Yorkshire Evening Post, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
But move away from the coastline of the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese Islands into the mountainous interior and there is another layer to discover. I ventured inland with proud Rhodian Alex Savaidis, who also runs the well-established travel company Savaidis Group, to discover the other side of Rhodes. And although he has lived on the island most of his life, there were still a few firsts for him too.
I flew out from Liverpool John Lennon Airport - as I find it much easier than negotiating nearby Manchester Airport - with Jet2 but the a.
