HistoryHow would one describe Rhodes? The
island of the knights, the emerald island, the island of the sun?
An architectural symphony of breathtaking buildings and landmarks?
Perhaps it could all be summed up in one simple word: magic. This
mysterious quality of enchantment can be felt in its luscious forests, on its
golden beaches, on every street corner and in every “medieval” alley. A
crossroads of nations and civilisations, Rhodes cast its spell on all:
Phoenicians, Dorians, Persians, Venetians, Knights of St. John and Turks, just
to name a few. They all left
their mark.
The final battle for this corner of paradise took place in 1912 between the
Turks and the Italians, bearing a new period of occupation that lasted until
1947, when Rhodes was incorporated into Mother Greece
In 1924 he commissioned
the design of a deluxe hotel by the Venetian construction company, SAGAR,
probably the largest of its kind at the time.
The architectural trend during this period was a combination of
Byzantine, Arabian, Ottoman and Venetian lines and was thus applied to this
structure. The construction was
undertaken by the company G. SPAINI – M. URBAN
On the 26th
of March 1925 construction began and after a little more than two years, on
the 24th of May 1927, the spectacular inauguration ceremony took
place in the presence of local authorities and important personalities from
Italy and Egypt.
A
legend was born.
This masterpiece was named the Grande Albergo delle
Rose, Italian for Grand Hotel of Roses, attributing its name to the glorious
rose garden found on its premises. Rhodes
had acquired one of its most historic and symbolic structures, being the
allegro of the unique architectural composition. Needless to say, the hotel
contained the best that technology had to offer, the finest furniture from
famous houses such as PUCROT, ZANIOL and PALEARI, and the most sought after
comforts and amenities, as well as a casino that was officially opened in
1929.
On the 22nd of November 1936 a new commander of the Dodecanese
was appointed. Cesare Maria de
Vecchi Conte di Val Gismon was not very fond of the architectural design that
his predecessor used and demanded that immediate renovation be done on all
buildings. This, of course, applied to the Grande Albergo delle Rose, being
subjected to a more modest and simple line called, “rurale”, similar to
its present form.
In 1937, the hotel’s administration was taken over by the Italian hotel
company, SAVIA and the casino was taken over by the companies SAN REMO and
CAMPIONE (still in existence today).
The Grande Albergo delle Rose was christened the “Dream of the East”,
as it became the top attraction of the international jet set of the time.
Eleftherios Venizelos, Aristotle Onassis, Constantine Karamanlis, George
Papandreou, Tito, Winston Churchill and Moshe Dayan are but a few of the great
names to have graced the halls of the hotel with their presence.
Many historic events took place at this hotel, one of the most
important being the signature of the foundation of the State of Israel in
1948.
After the
incorporation of the Dodecanese into “Mother Greece”, the Grande Albergo
delle Rose offered its services to the Greek State.
In September 1955 its administration was given to the company Astir S.A
and then eventually conceded to the Municipality of Rhodes. A glorious
and enviable era came to an end when the doors of this hotel were closed in
the mid 1970’s.
Casino Rodos S.A. eventually undertook its usage in the beginning of 1999,
promising to give back the glamour, beauty and distinction that it epitomised
in the past. This promise was upheld with the rebirth of the legend, the
Grande Albergo delle Rose, which will certainly create a new era for itself by
continuing on the same brilliant path of the past and uphold the revolutionary
standards that it has set for the service and tourism industry.