Shops Market in Rhodes island:
Rhodes is a paradise for shopping lovers! There is plethora of shops in the New City of Rhodes and in the Medieval Town. Perhaps there is no other place in the world the size of Rhodes that can compete with it for the variety and range of products to satisfy almost every demand.
Most popular stores lie within the Old Town and the paved alleys. There you can find classic and modern gold, silver jewellery,there are plenty of gold and silver factorys in Rhodes and a quality of leather goods which imported from Turkey and northern Greece.
Walking In the Old Town you will find also a plethora of shops with fine reproductions of ancient statues, friezes, tiles, vases, antique carpets, furniture, paintings and porcelain.
Rhodes is also famed for handmade carpets and kilims, there are few women around the island who make carpets in their homes and some monasteries too. In the Old Town you will find many of them.
If you like the wine in Rhodes you will find a high quality taste of wine with fine reputation. There are 2 wineries in the island : 1.) C.A.I.R – 2.) EMERY .The sunshine, the mild climate and the advanced techniques of the local wine makers, all contribute to the excellent quality of Rhodian wine.Some of them have received awards at many international wine exhibitions.
One more Rhodian product is the local honey which has an excellent taste and its one of the best in the world.
Olive oil is also a local art, a precious gift from the Greek land, virgin olive oil which is one of the best types!
Also there are ordinary shops where you can buy clothes, shoes, books, things for the beach, glasses and so on.
Then, there are the souvenir shops where everything Greek can be bought: leather belts, gloves, bags, icons, embroideries, copies of ancient art etc. and last shops with ceramics, all of the ceramic creations are hand made in Rhodes.
The Rhodian cuisine:
One can savor local delicacies in the many taverns and restaurants of the City, as well as high gastronomy in some restaurants which have attained international distinction, and are recommended in international restaurant guides.
At this crossroad of civilizations, the local cuisine has acquired elements from the three continents that surround the island. It has borrowed from Asia, Africa and Europe but is above all Mediterranean. These various elements were selected, filtered and finally re-invented with a very distinct local character.
Traditionally, the Rhodian table was rich in variety. This tradition continues until today. Gourmets from all over the world have good reason to visit Rhodes as they have the chance to enjoy local specialties that brilliantly combine traditional and modern tastes: unforgettable delicate flavors, fresh fish and seafood, original fresh salads, magnificent meat dishes as well as the wide range of sweets and desserts made mainly of cereals, olive oil, nuts, fruits, honey and herbs.
Visiting Rhodes island you must try out the mezedes, a variety of small Greek dishes often accompanied by the local aperitif, ouzo.
Rhodian recipes you really should try:
‘dolmades’ (vine leaves filled with lamb and rice), ‘pitaroudia’ (croquettes made of chickpeas), ‘kapamas’ (goat baked in the oven with beans or chickpeas), ‘soupiorizo’ (risotto with squid), ‘manatsouki’ (beans or chickpeas baked from the evening before in a terracotta pot over a wood fire), ‘rifiki’ (backbone of lamb or goat stuffed with rice and roasted all night long in a terracotta pot), ‘salamogia’ (myzithra cheese in brine with peppercorns), ‘giaprakia’ (stuffed vines leaves with rice),the kalamaraki (grilled squid), the tiropitta with goat’s cheese, and choriatiki salata, feta-based traditional Greek salads
You must also try:
keftedakia (meatballs), meliasti (Feta Cheese wrapped in Filo (Phyllo) and topped with Honey and Sesame), avranies (Wild Asparagus, Onion, Lemon juice), karavoli Giachnisti (Snails in Sauce), fasolakia Barbunia (Green Beans Barbunia, Onions, Parsley, Tomatoes, red Peppers), feta sti Shara (Grilled Feta Cheese topped with slices of Tomatoes, Mild Pepper, Oregano, and Olive Oil, wrapped in foil), melitzana Psiti (Roasted Eggplant (sometimes with Garlic, Yogurt and Nuts), gemista (Tomatoes and Peppers stuffed with a mixture of Minced Meat and Rice), skorthopsomo (Bread, Garlic and Olive Oil), horta (Boiled Greens. Very healthy, with Lemon (or Vinegar) and Olive Oil), garidaki Simiako (Little fried Shrimp from Simi Island), marides (Small deep-fried Fish that can be eaten whole, heads bones and all), rega (Smoked Herring in olive oil), bacaliaros Skordalia (Cod in Garlic Sauce), garides me Feta (Shrimp with Feta Cheese), chtapodi Xithato (Marinated Octopus on a Tradition Greek Style) and mydia me Tomata Kai Skordo (Mussels with Tomato and Garlic).
There is no shortage too of impressive sweets: ‘melekouni’ (a local sweet like nut brittle which is made for weddings and baptisms), and ‘talagoutes’ (pancakes with honey, walnuts, sesame and cinnamon).
Going out:
Apart from getting to know the culture, the beaches and crystal clear waters as well as the Greek gastronomy, visitors should acquaint themselves with today’s vibrant Rhodian life style. Rhodes offers something for people of all ages and preferences, including music cafes, trendy shops, music halls, cinemas, bars, night clubs, dancing clubs, restaurants, fashionable meeting points and the casino. Equally important is that anywhere visitors choose to go they will feel warmly welcomed.For more details about rhodes nightlife see here.