Palace of the Grand Master

The Palace of the Grand Master (Kastello) stands at the top of the Street of the Knights in the medieval Old Town of Rhodes Town, Rhodes, Greece. Built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century as a fortress and administrative seat, it was heavily damaged by an explosion in 1856 and rebuilt in the 1930s under Italian rule. Its towers, crenellated walls and rounded bastions give photographers a castle-like silhouette that is best framed from the small square in front of the main gate, where a wide-angle lens captures both the twin towers and the stone approach. The facade faces roughly north-east and is lit most warmly in late afternoon and early evening, when low sun picks out the honey-coloured masonry against a blue sky; early morning gives softer, cooler light with fewer people in the forecourt. Cloudy days reduce glare on the pale stone and suit interior courtyard shots. Interior photography inside the palace, including the mosaic floors and the inner courtyard with its statues, is generally allowed without flash, but visitors should follow signs and staff instructions. The best seasons are April to June and September to October, when light is clear and crowds smaller than during the July and August peak. The forecourt becomes busy mid-morning when tour groups arrive, so tripod positions near the gate fill quickly; visitors who want an unobstructed frame can arrive just after opening or shoot toward closing time. Tripod use inside the palace is normally restricted, and professional or commercial photography at state-run monuments requires a permit from the Ministry of Culture. Drone flights over the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are restricted. Entry to the palace interior is paid, with fees set by the Greek Ministry of Culture and varying by season, but photographing the exterior from the square and approach street costs nothing. A telephoto lens can pick out the battlements from the lower end of the Street of the Knights.