Fort of St Nicholas
Fort of St Nicholas features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Rhodes. Give it roughly ~45 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type castle
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Rhodes Rhodes guide
About Fort of St Nicholas
A compact, round Knights-era sea fort at the tip of the Mandraki mole, its lighthouse still marking the harbour mouth, and part-funded long ago by a Burgundian duke.
The Fort of St Nicholas stands at the far end of Mandraki harbour's breakwater, guarding the entrance to the northern port. The Knights of St John built the round tower around the 1460s under Grand Master Pietro Raimondo Zacosta to defend the harbour against Ottoman attack, raising it over an existing small Byzantine chapel of St Nicholas, from which it takes its name. Reused marble fragments from unidentified Hellenistic monuments are built into its walls.
After the Ottoman siege of 1480 and an earthquake the following year, Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson reinforced the tower with a lower circular bastion and gun platform, converting it into a sea fortress. Its construction was substantially funded by a gift of 12,000 gold crowns from Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and the fort once displayed the coats of arms of Zacosta and the duke. A lighthouse, rebuilt in the 19th century, still marks the harbour entrance.
Did you know? The sea fort was substantially paid for by a gift of 12,000 gold crowns from Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and once displayed the coats of arms of both Zacosta and the duke.
How long is a visit to Fort of St Nicholas?
Set aside roughly ~45 min for Fort of St Nicholas. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Fort of St Nicholas worth your time?
Fort of St Nicholas is among the 18 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Rhodes, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Rhodes
Day 1 of the Rhodes in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Fort of St Nicholas
Preview the Rhodes tour free in the Gingerguide app.