Elafos

Have you ever heard of a hotel named after a deer? High on the slopes of Mount Profitis Ilias in Rhodes, nestled among pines and cypresses, sits the Elafos Hotel. Elafos, you see, means “deer” in Greek. This majestic building, with its Italian architecture and imposing presence, takes its name from the Dama Dama deer that roam the surrounding forests. The Elafos isn’t just a hotel. It’s a piece of Rhodes’ history, a testament to a time when Italian aesthetics met the wild beauty of this Greek island. Built in 1929 by the Italians as Albergo del Cervo, meaning Deer’s Hotel, it originally served as lodging for Italian army officers. The Elafos boasts a unique blend of masonry and reinforced concrete frame. Its steeply pitched wooden rooftops, covered with corrugated sheets, add to its distinct alpine charm. This design, far removed from typical Dodecanese architecture, was a deliberate attempt to evoke the mountainous regions of Northern Italy. The Elafos expanded in 1932 with the addition of a new wing. This wing, named Elafina, meaning “female deer,” cemented the hotel’s connection to the graceful creatures inhabiting the nearby woods. During World War II, the Elafos served first as lodging for Italian officers, then as a German military hospital. Today, the Elafos has been meticulously refurbished. It offers modern comforts while retaining its historic character. Imagine sitting on your veranda, breathing in the scent of pine and cedar, the sounds of the forest serenading you. The view stretches out before you, a breathtaking panorama of the Aegean Sea. The Elafos offers more than just stunning vistas. A network of paths winds through the surrounding landscape. They offer opportunities for walks, cycling, and even archery. The Elafos invites you to step back in time, to experience the unique history and natural beauty of Rhodes. It’s a place where the past whispers through the trees, a place where the spirit of the Dama Dama deer still graces the mountain slopes.