South of Lindos

South of Lindos is Pefki resort, named for its pine trees, where there a coves and a large sandy beach; Lardos village, west of Lindos, is an attractive village, as is Laerma,12 km inland on the Profila road, near which is the 9th century monastery of Moni Thari. 12th century frescoes are to be seen in this oldest of religious buildings on Rhodes, which is occupied by an abbot and monks from Patras.

Lardos Bay has sand dunes, reeds, and marshes; the beach at Glystra is less developed, situated in a sheltered cove, though there’s a snack bar and some beach umbrellas; Kotari beach is miles in length, with hills behind it and some good tavernas, with most development back from the beach; Asklipio is a medieval hill village below ruins of a Knights’ castle.

In the Byzantine church at Matamorphosi Monastery are 15th century frescoes with scenes from the Old Testament, with an ecclesiastical museum and folklore gallery on the monastery grounds; Yennadi is an agricultural village set back from a sand and pebble beach several kilometers in length, with very clear water; the inland village of Lachania has houses restored by foreigners, some good tavernas, rooms, and some nice fountains.

There’s a new marina and fish farm at Pliriri on Cape Vigla, with a sandy bay, dunes, and some good beaches; a 2km long beach is to the south near the Church of Zoodochou Piyis, where endangered sea turtles nest; Kattavia, southernmost village on Rhodes, is visited by windsurfers headed out to Cape Prassonisi (Leek Island), accessible via a sandy isthmus with calm water on one side, and big waves on the other. Two big windsurfing outfits are here. Accomodation here fills up fast (no campsites). Ruins of 6th-7th century BC Vroulia, a walled settlement above the sea, are near the isthmus; ruins of a 5th century basilica with some floor mosaics are in the inland hill village of Mesanagros.

Around the tip and up the West Coast Ktenia islet- Very windy beaches are found here, which get littered with debris, though the views are great.