Acropolis of Rhodes (Monte Smith)

The Acropolis of Rhodes occupies Monte Smith, a hill west of the modern city of Rhodes in Greece, named after the British admiral Sir Sidney Smith who used it as an observation post during the Napoleonic Wars. In antiquity this was the acropolis of the city of Rhodes, which was founded in 408 BC through the synoecism of three older cities, Lindos, Ialyssos and Kamiros. The principal remains date from the Hellenistic period, in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, when Rhodes was a leading maritime and cultural power. The best-known remains are the partly reconstructed Temple of Pythian Apollo, of which a few columns have been re-erected, the stadium, and a small theatre, or odeon. The stadium, about 200 metres long, was reconstructed by the Italians in the 1930s, and its original track and stone seating are the clearest ancient features on the site. The small theatre has been restored with tiered seating, and the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, whose foundations lie nearby, is also marked. The hill was also associated with the school of rhetoric where figures such as Cicero and Julius Caesar are said to have studied. Archaeological excavations began under the Italian administration, and the restorations of that period shaped the present appearance. The site is open air and unstaffed in many areas, and visitors move between the stadium, the temple platform and the theatre along paved paths. Interpretive signs are limited, so a guidebook or an app helps with understanding. Preservation is partial, with many structures reduced to foundations, and some Italian-era reconstructions blend original and new stone. The hill has also become a popular sunset spot, with views over the Aegean towards the island of Symi and the Turkish coast. There is no curated exhibition: the experience is archaeological and scenic, usually taking about an hour. The site is free and sits only a short drive or a bus ride from the Old Town.