For decades, one of the most significant archaeological arteries of Rhodes lay hidden in plain sight. Known as the “Perivola” site, this 18-acre area in the heart of the Medieval City served as a storage ground for over 15,000 ancient fragments. Now, a major €4.5 million ($5.34 million) project is clearing away the clutter to reveal a silent witness to the island’s past: a grand, stone-paved Roman road.
While parts of this road—and the Hellenistic ship ramps (neoria) beneath it—were unearthed in previous excavations, they have long been inaccessible to the public. The current initiative, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, represents a historic shift.
Roman road to become monumental route
The goal is to transform this “hidden” highway into a timeless monumental route that physically links the ancient dockyards with the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Master.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, who has prioritized the site’s completion by the summer of 2026, highlighted the strategic vision:
“Our goal is to highlight the ‘Perivola’ site and connect the ancient remains of the dockyards with the medieval gardens of the Castello. We are creating a single, timeless monumental core—a huge comparative advantage for Rhodes and Greece.”
The discovery confirms a fascinating urban continuity: the Roman road was built directly atop the footprint of an even older Greek thoroughfare. This proves that the “skeleton” of the city has remained unchanged for over 2,000 years.
By the time the project is complete, visitors will be able to walk the same path as Roman legionnaires and medieval knights, moving seamlessly through layers of history that were, until now, “cut off” from the modern city.
Related: How Ancient Rhodes Became a Maritime Power: The “Police of the Seas”
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