“How strong do walls need to be to withstand a sultan’s fury?” We are standing before the Bastion Del Carretto, a testament to the Knights’ resilience and architectural ingenuity. This bastion, also known as the Post of Italy, played a pivotal role during the Ottoman siege of 1481. Imagine the thunder of cannons as Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, set his sights on Rhodes. The Sultan’s forces managed to breach the walls right here at the Post of Italy. But the Knights, outnumbered but undaunted, repelled the invaders with fierce determination. This victory, however, came at a cost. The earthquake of 1481 dealt a devastating blow to Rhodes, damaging the fortifications and the spirit of its defenders. The Knights, ever resourceful, poured their wealth into rebuilding. Grand Master Fabrizio del Carretto, after whom this bastion is named, took charge. He commissioned a powerful chemin de ronde, a fortified walkway, armed with cannons for devastating reverse fire. The Bastion Del Carretto stands today as a symbol of the Knights’ refusal to be cowed, a testament to their enduring legacy etched in these very stones.
C.A.I.R. winery
“A toast to Rhodes,” someone whispered, raising an imaginary glass. And here, at the C.A.I.R. winery, the very air hums