■ RHODES, GREECE: As one of history’s most contested and thus fought over islands, Rhodes, which today is part of Greece, is one of Europe’s hidden gems if travelling to historic places is your forte. It is still a well known holiday destination but this incredible island doesn’t get the same publicity as Europe’s other tourism heavyweights.

So since I am in Rhodes for the second summer in a row, I figured I’d do my bit in changing just that.

Ancient Rhodes was host to one of the earliest advanced civilisations of the Mediterranean prior to the Bronze Age collapse. A millennia later it was responsible for one of the 8 wonders of the ancient world: the colossus of Rhodes which guided ships safely into its famed harbour.

Minoans, Dorians, Persians, Athenians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Italians and now Greeks finally again have all ruled this island.

I skipped over one of the most prominent and famed conquerors though. It was not a kingdom, empire, nation or even an ethnic group with a single language.

Instead it was a military crusading order which started out as a hospital run by traders from the Italian city state of Amalfi in what was then known as the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the year 1100 A.D.

Today they are known to us as: The Knights Hospitaller or The Order of Saint John the Baptist

These bellicose monks who had picked up the sword to defend Christ and his worldly domains conquered Rhodes from the Byzantines in 1309 and ran the island for the benefit of what they called the one true faith, as their own country, for the next 213 years.

Not beholden to any nation, King or Emperor and only (nominally at least) recognising the Pope as an authority figure other than their own Grandmaster, these Knights soon became Europe and Christendom’s easternmost outpost in an increasingly Ottoman corner of the Mediterranean Sea.

This video will cover some of the fascinating historical trivia surrounding this period the Knights Hospitaller ran this island as I visit one of Rhodos' oldest goldsmiths and they show us how to make a custom piece of jewelry from scratch using an ancient Rhodian method.

In between medieval history lessons and visits to the goldsmith for updates on my custom Knights Hospitaller ring order I will also wander about Rhodos Medieval old town and show you what makes Rhodes such an awesome place to holiday in from food, to shopping, beaches and hotels ⚔️


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