Rhodes West coast

Rhodes West coast
Apolakia village is known its wedding feast and superb watermelons; there are some rooms and tvernas here. The Monolithos castle, built by a Grand Master sits high on a 215meter/700 ft. crag that rises up out of the sea; a spiral staircase leads to the top, with its frescoed chapel of Ayios Yeorgos, with two tavernas also found up there. The village also has tavernas and some rooms.

Fourni beach lies far below, with some caves that were inhabited during early Christian times. Not only is the way down step and winding, though paved, but sea currents are strong and amenities sparse. The pretty stone hill village of Siana, famous for its honey, lies below Mt. Akaramytis (835 metrs/1706 ft);its Ayios Pandeleimonas church has restored 18th century frescoes. Embonas is a famed wine village with a fine red wine made from indigenous grapes, and some tasting rooms; there are some touristic paneyiria (festivals) held there with feasting, music, and dancing. Mt. Atavyros can be climbed in three hours from Embonas-not an easy hike. The wine village of Aghios Isidhoros is less touristic than Embonas; Kritinia village has a folklore museum outside of town, and a nice, atmospheric kafenio just as one enters it.

The ancient port of Kameiros (Kameiros Skala) is now a fishing village, with a ferry link to Halki; above it is the very impressive Knights’ castle (Castello), with fantastic views, though little to see inside except for a chapel and cistern.

The excavation site near Kameiros (open Tues-Sun 8am-7pm in summer;8:30-3pm winter, 3 euros) is a well-preserved ancient city which was probably originally Minoan, and which contains some of the richest archaeological finds in Greece. The strangely named beach of Paralia Kopria (Manure Beach) has a good taverna.