Monolithos
Posted in the Villages
by the Editor
Monolithos (Μονολιθος) is a small mountain village at 77 km from the town center, in the south-western part of the island of Rhodes. It has a population of 134 inhabitants and its name derives from a 240 m. high, rock (lithos in greek) with a castle on its top that dominates the view. The village and its beautiful nature that surrounds it, still remain mostly untouched from the tourist development. This area is ideal for off the beaten track excursions.
The closest village to Monolithos is Sianna at about 5 km noth while the village of Embonas is at about 17 km towards the center of the island. There are some attractions around the village like the castle of Monolithos and the Apolakià Dam at about 10 km. The beach of Prassonissi is at about 30 km.
A walk around the amphitheatrically built village will reveal some very interesting traditional rhodian village houses, built of stone with light flat roofs, with small courtyards full of flowers.
Food is very good here, opt for the traditional greek dishes To date, there are also only four taverns and cafés at the village square, all of which serve the standard fare, excepting for one which is well-known among Rhodians and tourists alike for its exceptional country cuisine – his lamb-on-the-spit is to die for – and very reasonable prices.
The settlement itself is made up of mostly single or multi-tiered flat-roofed houses, most of which boast pretty little front courtyards, with great splashes of colour lent by the rows of flower pots and the bougainvillea that cascade over garden walls and doors. This is farm country so don’t be taken aback if you should see elderly villagers riding their little donkeys to “work”.
The village lies amphitheatrically at the foot of Mt. Akramytis, which at an altitude of 825m is the second tallest mountain of Rhodes, and, on entering the settlement, you get a clear sense of the way life used to be many decades ago – little seems to have changed over the years.
The locals are occupied mostly with farm work, and honey, wine and the strong aperitif, souma, are also produced in this village and can be bought from the taverns and little shops.
This is a beach that is tailor-made for naturists and those that hanker after extremely quiet, isolated beaches. It’s a small, wild pebble-and-sand beach, 5km from the rocky cliff, and it is yet to be exploited commercially. There are no umbrellas and sun beds here except for a handful that are hired out by the owner of the tiny canteen that sells refreshments and light snacks. Unless you take your own umbrella along, you will have to find a cool spot under the shade cast by some rock outcrops or the line of pine trees, further up from here. The sea is also a lot rougher here than it is on the east coast of the island, so do take extra care, unless you’re a strong swimmer. Little coves and bays and three or four ancient caves set the scene for a really picturesque and private beach, a rare sight in Rhodes.
Major Attractions Include:
Monolithos castle – the castle is built on the summit of a rocky outcrop. Sections of the fort still remain and they are quite well preserved. Within the castle walls are two small medieval chapels with lovely frescoes. The best thing about climbing to the top of this rock, however, is the outstanding views from there.
Rock carvings at Fourni beach – ancient carvings in the shape of baths can be viewed. According to local historians, the baths were built for the exclusive use of nobility.
Holy monasteries - you can visit the holy monasteries of Aghios Isidoros, Aghios Georgios and Aghios Ioannis in the vicinity of the village.
Achitecture – Interspersed among the village dwellings are various graceful structures of Italian architecture, such as the only village school and a very elegant Police station.
How to get to Monolithos Village
If you’re coming from Rhodes Town in the north, get onto the main west coast road, which goes passed Ixia, Ialyssos, Kremasti, Paradisi, Soroni, Fanes, Kalavarda and Mandriko. Continue until you get to Kamiros Skala, then follow the wide curve that goes inland and drive for another 4.5km for the village of Kritinia. Go passed Kritinia and continue along this winding road for the next 14km until you come to Sianna. From Sianna, drive for another 4.5km and you will have arrived at Monolithos.
