WEST COAST

Populous resorts, important archaeological sites, picturesque villages await us on this side of the island as well. Following the road to the west we cross the great coast where most of the island's hotels are clustered and reach Trianda (8 km) or Ialissos, a townlet surrounded by orchards. The beach of lalissos marks the end of the great chain of hotels starting from the beach of the city of Rhodes. One should visit here the church of the Dormition of Theotokos (Virgin Mary, Mother of God) with its famous woodcarved temple, and then follow the winding picturesque road crossing the pine wood up to the Acropolis of Ialissos (6 km) the important Doric city built on the flat top of Mt Filerimos, strategically overlooking the island. Places of archaeological interest include the temple of Polias Athena (3rd century BC), the Baptismal Font of an early Christian church, the brilliantly restored church of Panagia Filerimos, the monastery, the ruins of a medieval castle, the Doric fountain and the ancient necropolis. Further to the west on the coast road, after Kremasti and Paradissi, one should go up left and reach the lush greenery of the famous Petaloudes (Butterflies) valley (25 km), unique in the whole of Greece. Millions of butterflies gather here in the summer. The slightest sound drives them in flocks from among the trees and shrubs - a rare sight. Returning to the coast road we reach the side-road leading to ancient Kamiros, third in importance commercial centre of Antiquity (34 km). Archaeologists discovered this city, forgotten for centuries, in 1928. Ruins of this city - unique in having neither a castle nor an acropolis - are not commensurate with its past glory. We discern parts of houses and buildings, the Agora, with its Doric stoa (3rd century), a hellenistic temenos with Doric temple, ruins of an aqueduct and remnants of the peripteral temple of Kamiriad Athena. Beside the foundations of that temple stands the Panagia monastery, near to a proto-Christian catacomb. The west road continues for a while along the coast, reaches the village Scala Kamirou (51 km), then turns inland. From this village, with picturesque windmills and a panoramic view 1 to the opposite islets, one can reach Chalki by caique. The traveller will be pleasantly surprised by the amphitheatric Kritinia village (55 km), with a nearby medieval castle, then Siana, (69 km), full of old stone houses, and Monolithos, built on the pine covered slopes of Mt. Ataviros. A nearby medieval castle, built on a steep cliff, imposes its presence. To the south one crosses endless green fields to reach Apolakia (84 km), famous for its marriage feasts, and finally from the opposite side - Katavia (102 km).