If I were to choose only one place to visit on the island of Rhodes, the Acropolis at Lindos would be the on the top of the list. The view from here is spectacular. Located at the top of a large cliff overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean on three sides and rugged land on the other, the Acropolis presents a site to behold. In the 4th c BC, the Acropolis was built in tribute to the great Goddess Athena.

On the Acropolis of Lindos stands the Sanctuary of Athena Lindia, which includes many different buildings, reliefs, structures and monuments. Inside the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia is the table of offerings and the base of the cult statue of Athena. A balustrade closes off the columns and the room behind would have served as a treasury chamber for the temples' money and sacred items. There is a large Hellenistic staircase leading up to the main archaeological area of the Acropolis. Beside these lie the remains of the Governors' palace. Cut into the rock at the foot of this staircase is the relief of a Rhodian ship, dated 180-170 BC. The bow stood a statue of General Hagesander Mikkion, the work of the sculptor Pythokritos who, according the inscription, carved the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The relief bears traces of paint and is separated by a barrier.

The above-mentioned Hellenistic staircase leads to a D-shaped stoa and a door with 5 door openings. A room opened behind each wing of the stoa. In the west wing, the room was followed by three smaller chambers, and in the east wing, there was one. These chambers were used to deposit votive offerings to the goddess. These chambers opened into an interior courtyard with a portico three sides in which an altar stood.

The Knights of St. John remodeled the Byzantine Castle before 1317. Except for a few parts, there is nothing still standing since the time before the Knights. They rebuilt many of the fortifications making many changes and improvements and the few towers follow the natural conformation of the cliff. Today, one of the towers at the southwest corner and one west of the Governor's Palace still survive. The Governor's Palace, in its present form, consists of two buildings, but originally there were three. On the terrace of the large stoa and on top of the storage magazines of the Acropolis (1st c BC), stands the Church of St. John. This church built on the top of the ruins of a previous church and is said to have been constructed in the latter part of the 11th century.

Outside of the Acropolis are many monuments and outbuildings that complete the entire archaeological site. The Boukopion, a place of sacrifices, is located to the northeast. A vestibule of sorts contained votive offerings to a deity not yet identified. On the southwest side of the hill, a circular orchestra and auditorium was carved out of the side of the hill. This theater was constructed to hold 1,800 spectators. In the locality of Vigli under the east cliff of the Acropolis, a mosaic floor and marble tiling of an early Christian basilica have been found, dating back to the 5th c. To thoroughly explore all there is to see at the Acropolis at Lindos, make sure to set at least 2 days aside and bring your camera!