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Rising quietly above the red-tiled roofs of Rhodes Old Town, the Clock Tower in Rhodes is one of those landmarks that doesn’t shout for attention—but rewards those who seek it out.
It’s easy to miss as you wander the labyrinth of medieval alleys, yet once spotted, it becomes a magnetic point of orientation, drawing your gaze upward with its soft sandstone tones and elegant silhouette.
Set between Sokratous and Orfeos Street, just a breath away from the Palace of the Grand Master, the tower has watched the city shift through centuries of change—from Ottoman rule to Italian occupation to the present day. It marks not only time, but the endurance of place. Blending Islamic aesthetics with European mechanics, the Clock Tower in Rhodes is both a monument to precision and a quiet guardian of the city’s skyline.
Climb its narrow staircase, and you’ll trade the clatter of the bazaar for a peaceful view stretching from minarets to the Mediterranean. Up here, time doesn’t press—it unfolds.
While the medieval city is packed with towers, bastions, and domes, the Clock Tower in Rhodes offers something unique: perspective. After climbing its interior staircase—surprisingly compact, but manageable—you’re greeted with a 360-degree view that places the whole Old Town at your feet. Terracotta rooftops, minarets, bell towers, and distant cruise ships stretch out beneath a soft island light.
At the top, time slows. There’s no rush here—only the click of gears and the hush of sea breeze slipping over centuries-old stone. The clock still ticks, but it does so gently, as if out of respect for the history surrounding it.
Built in the mid-19th century by Fethi Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Rhodes, the tower was a symbol of civic modernization and order. It was constructed shortly after a devastating explosion in the nearby Palace had destroyed the area. The new clock tower was meant to mark a new era—literally and figuratively—with its mechanical movement imported from Vienna.
The mechanism still works today, making it not only the oldest surviving clock tower in Rhodes, but one of the few historical timepieces on the island that continues to function with such precision.
Tucked beneath the tower’s base is a charming café shaded by stone arches and bougainvillea, making it a perfect place to pause after the climb. Entry to the tower includes a drink—coffee, juice, or a local aperitif—served with the quiet satisfaction of having earned the view.
Visiting the Clock Tower in Rhodes is not a lengthy excursion, but it is a memorable one. The entry fee is modest and includes your choice of beverage at the café. The climb itself is short, and the reward is one of the finest panoramic vantage points in the entire Old Town.
Most visitors find themselves staying longer than expected—not because of the height, but because of the calm. Up here, the sounds of street musicians and market stalls fade. You’re not just looking at Rhodes; you’re looking into it.
The Clock Tower in Rhodes may not appear on every postcard, but it offers one of the most peaceful and rewarding moments a traveller can find within the medieval walls. It invites you not just to see the city, but to rise above it—briefly, quietly, and beautifully. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, the view from the top always feels like a discovery.
