This hotel became famous in wealthy circles not only in Europe, but particularly in the Arab Emirates, from where the Italians counted on attracting visitors, in which, indeed, they were successful. For the same reason they constructed two Swiss – type hotel complexes named ‘Elafos’ and ‘Elafina’, on Mount Profitis Ilias, with its excellent dry mountain climate.

The Rhodes Hotel has its moments of glory and, after the war, played host to leading figures like Count Bernadotte in 1948 and it was there that the agreements between Israel and Palestine were concluded in 1949.

The Aquarium, a building of great interest to visitors, stands alone by the sea, and King Paul Square was laid out along the west coast with its one hundred date palms; it was at that time flanked by government buildings. All the free spaces are now occupied by large hotels, which were built in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

In Niochori, one of the oldest monuments is the Catholic church of Santa Maria, the seat of Franciscan monks, which was built in 1743 and has been considerably remodeled. There is a small statue of the Virgin and child here, which was discovered in 1643 near the church of the 'Panayia tis Nikis' in the old town.

West and South Part of the Modern Town

After removing the Turkish cemeteries, the Italians declared the area around the Castle moat a monumental site, defined a protected zone and planted it with trees. Outside the d’ Amboise Gate at the west, they built the villa of the military governor, now the Municipal Cultural Centre, in a large park, in which the intact Late Hellenistic statuette of Crouching Aphrodite. (now in Rhodes Archeological Museum) was discovered. Further to the west, on the edges of the ancient acropolis, they built a large school building, which is now an Orphanage for girls.